Keeping the Tradition Alive Part 2

Although it’s a warm day walking out of the salon into a light breeze and setting off to the town, it is still a shock I can feel the air moving all round the back and sides of my head, I’m quite proud of my self that I’ve been given such a harsh stark old ladies cut and set but I’ve managed to hold back the tears and not seem upset for Grans sake.
“I’m must say gran she has taken us both very short, did you really want to be shaven quite so high”
“Its such a nice clean feeling as you must be finding out, I used to have my hair like this all the time and loved the simplicity of it, and that’s what I wanted you to experience when I had Edith cut you back a bit more, I must say my dear you look so elegant now a proper young lady, in fact a delight to see”
“It does seem very strange being completely bare”
“You’ll soon get used to it after a few more shaves, in fact in time you’ll even look forward to it and want it properly finished like mine not left that little bit softer like she has yours, she’s done that to help you ease in to a stricter more formal hair routine. I’m sure as soon as you realise the benefits you’ll be their having it properly sorted out”
I get the feeling that given time Gran would be only to happy to help me get properly sorted out.
The rest of the day was pleasant although I got the persistent feeling that people were looking at me all the time, I suppose I stood out from the norm, a lot once people realised how old I actually was.
Its now after dinner and a lovely evening and I’m sitting in the garden Grans inside packing a few things as she’s going out for the day tomorrow  with a few of her friends so I’ve the day to look forward to all by my self. My phone starts ringing and theirs a number I don’t recognise I wonder who this is.
“Hello Samantha, its Alan I hope you don’t mind me ringing you out of the blue like this, only I pestered Claire into giving me your number”
“I don’t mind at all in fact it nice to hear from you”
“Great I’m back tomorrow and if its not to forward of me I wondered if you’d care for some lunch tomorrow, theirs a lovely little pub not to far away”
“That would be lovely I’ll look forward to it”
“Great I’ll come for you at 12 o’clock then”
I give him Grans address and were all set for tomorrow. I’m all excited now.
Gran comes out into the garden holding a large envelope looking pleased.
“Gerald from the church has just dropped this off “
She opens the envelope and pulls out three photographs their about A4 paper size and as she turns them over I can see it’s the one’s taken of gran and me on Sunday. The first is both gran and me and is so like the picture of gran and mum taken all those years ago. The second is a full length portrait of me in that suit, I look so much older than I’ve ever seen my self looking and very prim and business like. The final picture is a head and shoulder close up of me with my freshly permed short curls this looks so strange as my age shows in how clear my skin is but the hairstyle looks so out of place, the reassuring thing is Alan didn’t seem to put off by it perhaps he thinks I’m just naturally curly and choose to have my hair cut short for convenience. My new cut however would dispel any thoughts of natural curls with how stark and hard it is which leads me to a big problem tomorrow, I don’t want to scare him off by turning up looking like my Gran but at the same time I don’t think I can wash the set out yet with out upsetting Gran. And what am I going to wear.
Gran’s left before I got up this morning and as I sit having breakfast in my long night dress and hair net trying to find a solution to my dilemma it dawns on me, when he saw me on Sunday he probably thought I’d dressed down because I was with my Gran and when he see’s me today it will be expecting me to look like any normal twenty year old, which will be convenient as I’ve a fashionable woolly hat in my bag upstairs which will completely cover my hair and I’ll be able to wear this when ever I see him until it grows back to a normal length. With this decision made I can now relax for a couple of hours until I need to get ready.
I’ve had a shower making sure I don’t get any water on my set, now time to get dressed I’ve a nice white vest top that will go with some black trousers I’d better wear a nice lacy bra as it will be partly on show, this will be different wearing fashionable clothes again.
My first problem becomes apparent my little panties and low cut trousers no wear near cover my fully grown pubic hair last time I wore these I had my freshly waxed Brazilian theirs no way of getting one of those done in time so I’ve just one option I wont be able to shape it properly my self so it all will have to come off.
The trousers and panties come off and I get the small scissors from the dressing table draw, I’m full length in the mirror in front of me naked except for a black hairnet, pulling at the first tuft of hair I snip it off as close as I can then another and keep going until I’ve just some uneven stubble down there. There’s only one way to finish it of foam and razor and slip my dressing gown on to fetch a bowl of hot water.
After I finish with the razor I can’t help feeling how smooth it is and such a contrast to the unruly hair that was their this makes me think of my neck so I feel around my neck and sides at the same time so really smooth. I’ve seen pictures of models with smooth shaven heads I wonder what it must be like to have a completely smooth shaven head now that must be some experience.
Replacing my trousers and it’s on with my bra this is so different from the big firm one’s I’ve been wearing these last few weeks and as I move I can feel my boobs move too, that’s not what I’ve got used to. The vest tops tight and is more like underwear after the way I’ve been primly covered up, not much make up today.
I carefully take my hairnet off the set is as precise as ever securely lacquered in place, the sight of it in the mirror still takes me by surprise, what did she do to me. My hat comes down and completely covers my hair it’s lacquered enough so that it should be ok when I take it off its not ideal wearing this on a warm day like today but needs must I suppose.
The bell goes and the butterfly flit about my belly here goes.
“Hi Alan I’m nearly ready just need to slip my shoes on come in”
“Oh hello Samantha”
Alan walks in he seems a little surprised and subdued
“Is every thing ok Alan”
“Err err yes thank you”
Every thing doesn’t seem ok in fact he doesn’t seem to know were to look and seems shocked almost.
“I’ve got the car out side I thought we might” he seems to be having trouble getting his words out
Then it dawns on me rather than being shocked by my appearance last time we met he may be more surprised by me now with these low trousers and skimpy top and a lot of flesh on show in the middle.
“Alan would you answer me a question”
“Y-yes” he stammers
“Is the way I’m dressed at the moment affecting you”
“Well I’m just a bit surprised you’re styles somewhat different to last time we met”
“And which is your preferred”
“I must be honest I do like classic styling on a lady”
“Oh Alan I only dressed this way because of some thing that happened this week and I didn’t what you put off by it”
“What was that then?”
“Gran wanted me to go with her and have my hair set at an old ladies hairdressers that she goes to, I could see how much it meant to her and didn’t have the heart to refuse, how ever the old woman who did my hair did more than set me in fact she really went to town on me and I’ve been worried that you wouldn’t want to be seen with me when you see what’s happened to me hence the hat”
At last he’s smiling and looks relaxed
“How could I not want to be seen with you silly, now let me have a look I’m sure it can’t be that bad”
Using the hall mirror I gently remove the hat every little wave is still hard in place and slowly I turn to face him. He holds his breath for a few seconds then a genuine smile breaks out over his face.
“Samantha that looks wonderful, very short indeed you’re so brave letting them do this to you. And the back and sides are superb totally bald and so elegant, you’re hair was the first thing I noticed about you on Sunday it was just the way I like but this is so much better can I touch you’re neck”
“Of course you can”
He runs his finger of both hands up my naked neck and it feels like electricity running through me the feels the smooth skin around my ears.
“How could you want to cover this up from me?”
I feel a great wave of relief wash through me and so much happiness if he likes my hair so much then may be its not so bad after all.
“Now go through and sit down I’ll only be a minute, I’m going to put some much more suitable clothes on”
“That would be lovely”
I show Alan into the front room and as I turn to leave I see his car for the first time.
“Is that lovely soft top MG yours?”
“Yes do you like it?”                  
“I’ve always wanted to ride in a soft top with the hood down”
“Well I left the hood up so you’re hair wouldn’t be disturbed, but I can soon take it down if you like but what about you’re lovely waves”
“I’ve a solution for that just wait I wont be long”
I rush up stairs I cannot believe what he’s been saying he loves my harshly cropped and shaven hair all of my worries have been for nothing, now to give him the young lady he wants.
I quickly remove all my clothes and get out a nice big pair of silk knickers pulling them up over my waist they rub against my fresh shaven smooth skin and feel lovely. My boobs aren’t free to move anymore encased now in a very firm full cup high back long line bra and finished off with a thick girdle with six suspenders I’m back to full firm control my postures back to straight erect primness.
There is a lovely cream summer dress with a flared out skirt that’s well below the knee, a high collar and puffed little sleeves that will fit the bill perfectly matched with white fitted stockings and white court shoes and I’m nearly ready a single row of pearls and a cardigan over my shoulders and I feel so different and much happier than a few minutes ago, what must he have thought of me exhibiting my self like that now my hair in the draw there are a few silk scarves I select a nice one fold it and place it over my hair and tie it under my chin just like Gran does, just one thing left and some thing that I really noticed on Claire was her glasses in one of mums draws I’d noticed some real early sixties horn rimed sunglasses just the thing for a open top MG.
“Oh my Samantha that’s so much better I just love the confident way you wear those lovely classic styles you really are a beautiful lady thank you so much”
“No thank you for giving me the confidence to wear what I really want to not what have to worry what think people think of a young woman who has turned her back on tardy fashion.”
“Just one thing when we get their will you take the scarf off so every one can see you’re lovely little waves”
“No problem”
Alan’s already been out while I was getting changed and lowered the roof how ever these little sports cars aren’t that easy getting into with a full flared skirt and as he helps me in my skirt pulls up revealing a stockinged leg with thick suspenders this certainly brings a smile to his face and it takes me a couple a seconds longer than it needed to replacing my skirt.
We settle down for lunch this really is a nice old pup he’s bought me to. The first thing to do is remove my scarf as promised. Surprisingly I don’t feel so on show here with Alan than I do out with Gran; maybe his enthusiasm for my look has boosted my confidence.
 “That’s better I couldn’t wait to see those lovely little waves of yours, I can’t believe how lucky I am lunch with a perfect young lady.”
“I’m really glad you like it, I was so scared of peoples reactions to me when it was first cut”
“I’m quite sure every one who knows the real you has been very positive about you’re change, I cannot believe the difference a few days has made, what made you’re mind up to go even shorter and have a very traditional set”
“I didn’t get any choice in the matter Gran and her hairdresser just went for it”
“Well I’m glad they did because I can honestly say I love it, it must still be strange recently loosing a life times long hair but those long tresses couldn’t have looked any thing like as good as these little curls”
All these compliments are going to my head, and I’m starting to relax at last. Alan reaches up and strokes my bald shaven neck which is electric.
“Could I touch one of you’re curls”
“Of course you can”
He lays the fingers of his hand against my hard lacquer set hair.
“Did they use traditional lacquer on you or just hairspray?”
 “Lacquer and lots of it”
“Wow”
“If you think my hairs short you should see what she did to Gran, the hairdresser certainly went to town on her”
“Is her hair even shorter than yours then?”
“Yes by quite a bit”.
“What did you think to Claire’s hair on Sunday it was certainly very short wasn’t it?”
I think back and remember her hair cut into a high tightly curled bowl with lots of skin on show back and sides in fact her cut is very similar to grans new one.
“She seemed to wear it very confidently”
“Yes she does, she hairdressing her self now in a very traditional old fashioned even shop every time I see her now it’s something new for her hair, she asked me to say hello and her offer is still open to do you’re hair if you wish”
“May be I’ll take her up on it, although I perhaps need to tone down my hair soon as I’d like to look a bit less conspicuous when I return to uni.”
“Oh that would be a real shame for a long time I’ve wanted to meet a lovely young lady with beautiful tight curls and now you want to be come one of the crowd again”
He said all this in a joking manner but I get the feeling he would be disappointed. Oh well I’d better not disappoint him for a while.
“Of course if some one really wanted me to stay extremely short and curly I may have to rethink that part”
“I do”
I think this came out quicker than he intended and he’s coloured up slightly.
“If you like me short and curly then short and curly it is to be”
This statement gets a big smile.
“In fact will I be needing an appointment next week for a set again”
“A nice set will be lovely, I fact I’ve a few days off next week how about we go into town have Claire do you’re hair as she’s itching to get more younger customers in, then do something for the rest of the day in fact the set will be my treat”
I sense that he’d really like to see this so;
“In that case then if you’re paying for the set you can pick the style”
What have I just said!!!!
“Thank you” he replies with a big smile.
“You seem very keen to see me having my hair done again”
“Well I suppose I am in a way, I’ve always been fascinated by girls with extreme hair styles I don’t know why, when I was at uni a few years ago there were some girls on campus with really wild punk hair and they were fascinating but for me what I really like is some one like you who has the inner strength not to worry about following the herd and look like every one else and has the hair style they want not what they think everyone wants them to have. Every one except for a few of course I think your look is really attractive because of the no nonsense confidence that you project and those tight little curls are divine”
“Were you very disappointed when you called earlier then?”
“Yes I was if I’m to be honest, I was looking forward to lunch with a gentle properly turned out young lady, who reflected my own style and values, I’m not saying you didn’t look any thing other than respectable but not in quite the same manner”
“Well I certainly feel different when dressed primly and I suppose I do behave differently as if these firm foundations are a bed rock to my whole outlook, which is perhaps more restrained and disciplined”
“Well I for one love it, and there’s so much more to a lady modestly dressed than a girl with it all on display”
Thinking about it those low cut trousers didn’t leave much not displayed especially after I had to shave just to wear them. And reflecting on my brief return to trendy fashion although my bra girdle and stockings certainly aren’t made for comfort as they constantly remind me I’m wearing them they also constantly remind me of the new conservative lady I’ve become.
We spent the rest of the day together and as we sat in his car in the dark I experienced a real thrill as he caressed my breasts encased in the stiff fabric of my bra and ran his hand along my stocking on to the thick suspender then the leg of my large panties.
As we parted we made arrangements for next week as Alan needed to go back tomorrow,
“I should be able to get back Thursday about three pm so I could try and arrange for Clair to fit you in before they close then we could go on for something to eat after”
“That would be lovely and like I promised the style and lengths up to you”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to wait”
I felt at a bit of a loose end next day it’s going to be almost a week till I get to see Alan again we’ve just cleared up after breakfast and Gran wanted to know all my news from yesterday I filled her in on most but not all of it, she was really pleased when I told her how Alan had wanted me to get changed into some proper clothing and how he liked my hair especially after my second visit to Edith. She said it made him sound a delightful young man just the sort I should be encouraging.
Mid morning and my phone rings what a surprise its my mum
“Hello Sam how are you”
“Hi mum I’m fine this is a surprise”
“Well I’m back in the country staying with an old friend and wondered if I’d be able to travel down and see you during the holiday”
“That would be great mum I’m staying with gran at the moment though for the holiday”
“Oh my what a coincidence my friend still lives in your Grans town, can we meet for coffee this afternoon I don’t really want to come up to the house”
“Of course we’ll meet in the café by the square a 2 o’clock will that be ok”
“Lovely, see you then”
The rest of the morning seems to fly by this is most intriguing what’s bought mum back so unexpectedly,
I dress to go out with out a thought to how she’ll see me I’m so used to wearing respectable clothing now that the high buttoned light blue below the knee pleated dress I put on just seems natural now along with my smart polished lace up shoes and tan stockings, it doesn’t take a second to pat my heavily lacquered tight curls into perfect order and I’m off into town, its probably best not to say any thing yet to gran so I just tell her I’m off to meet a friend I met at the church last Sunday.
I enter the café and notice mum sat at a table in the corner she doesn’t quit look her usual self confident purple haired wildly dressed self, the hair and clothes are their but theirs something about her face seems slightly sad.
I go over to the table and start to sit down,
“Sorry but this table taken I’m meeting someone”
“I know you are mum”
“Oh my god Sam is that you, what has she done to you” mum hold her hands to her mouth and looks really shocked I wasn’t expecting this as I’ve gotten used to my new  look now and am a little taken aback.
“Yes it is me mum” I say as I sit down and gather the skirt of my dress around me in a lady like manner
“You’re beautiful long hair it’s all gone” she reaches out and touches one of my solid lacquered little curls then runs her fingers around my shaven neck, the touch on my sensitive neck makes me shiver just as it always does now.
“She hasn’t done any thing to me” I say feeling defensive of gran “I wanted all of my hair cut off it was just girlish and I felt I needed to grow up and have a appearance more suitable to my future hopes and aspirations’”.
“Oh Sam I’m sorry its just such a shock to see my carefree daughter transformed into who you are now, I bet you’re gran helped though”
“Grans been a great help to me and I wanted to give her something back and one I know she’d appreciate was to give my self a fresh start”
“Well you’ve certainly had that, that dress certainly looks familiar and does suit you very well”
“Thanks’ you should recognise it as you used to wear it in fact I’m wearing all you’re old clothes’ at the moment right down to the lovely underwear that was still in the draws as you left it”
“She still had all my clothes after all these years, I remember how she used to dress me up in those restrictive girdles and suspenders and have me wearing the same style dresses as she did and now you’re wearing them to I can’t really believe it, and you just seem so different now Sam like you’re grown up all of a sudden”

“Now then mum what’s bought you back to here of all places”
It takes her a moment to answer and as I wait I notice that she’s not looking at all her usual self, she looks tired and her hair colour isn’t as vibrant as usual in fact it could be described as dull with a good couple of inches of grey and dark growth showing.
“Spain’s not worked out at all for me the bar we ran has failed and the younger guy I was with has gone of with a girl slightly younger than you, so I came back last week and I’m staying with Carol a really old friend of mine I’ve always stayed in touch with till I get my self sorted out, as it happens it was Carol I stayed with after I left my mums house”
“How do you feel about gran now, I know she’s got many regrets about what happened all those years ago”
“To be honest with you I’m a bit embarrassed now about my behaviour towards her and dad, so yes I’ve my own regrets to”
Mums never opened up before about this subject, and I sense there may be a chance for me to bring them back together.
“Any way Sam enough about me what about you my lovely young lady you must tell me all about what you’ve been doing”
“Well first mum I’ve decided to stop calling my self Sam and it’s Samantha now”
This makes her smile.
“Uni is going very well and my grades are holding up well, I’ve no need to worry about holding down a part time job either as Gran has been very generous with her help and I’ve met a lovely young man and our relationship is just starting to fall into place”
“That’s brilliant Samantha, how does he feel about you’re new look”
“That’s the best part mum he loves it”
“You’re so lucky there then, its lovely for you that he can share you’re new values”
She seems to be thinking for a while then continues
“I was just thinking back to when mum took me unexpectedly to her hairdresser a right old battle axe named Edith and had all my lovely hair chopped then permed very similarly to yours, I was devastated I loved my hair and the last thing I wanted was a tight neat perm just like all the old ladies had. Those were different times and we were trying to branch out from all the old ways and my hair do set me apart from the whole culture I was starting to embrace it was like I’d had a limb cut such was the loss I felt. I might have coped with it better but my boyfriend at the time provided non of the support that yours seems to, he was horrified when he first saw me he always said my silky long hair was my outstanding feature and used to sit with me for hours talking and running it through his fingers. It broke his heart when it was sheared off and he was in shock as I showed the result there was nothing left at the back but some tiny little bristles after she shaved me so he had nothing to run his fingers through any more and I picked up that he didn’t want to be labelled with a very prim square as the expression was girlfriend.
It was this that sent me over the edge and I moved out of home and went to Carols looking back I suppose if all he wanted was my long hair then he wasn’t really for me anyway.
Carol tried to help me with my hair, we decided if we could relax the perm I’d have a kind of Mia Farrell look that was quite trendy at the time so we put relaxers on but I think that old Edith’s perm was that strong that the hair was damaged and started to break off. I put up with this for a little while but it was looking very patchy so I had no choice and one morning just as they opened so there wouldn’t be any one else around Carol came with me to a mans barber shop and they shaved all that was left of my hair off and left just a dark shadow over my scalp I didn’t cry as much when this was done as when it was first cut but it still deeply upset me and when mum came around later that day I just couldn’t speak to her. I guess I blamed her for the break up with my boyfriend and my freshly shaven head.”
Mums been talking for quite a while now and all of these memories seem to have taken their toll and I don’t want to push her to much this first time.
We leave it there today but arrange to meet tomorrow.          
Alan phoned later that night he’s quit excited about the fact he’d spoken to Claire and she’d be only to happy to do my hair, as it happens her boss will not be their and they were going to close for the afternoon but she’s staying just for us and we’ll have the salon all to ourselves. This worries me a little as I’ve the feeling that Claire doesn’t need much encouragement when it comes to dealing with young ladies hair and having Alan their to may mean I’ll be getting my primmest hairdo yet. Time to get ready for bed I go up and as I remove my girdle and unhook the suspenders I can’t help but wonder how mum felt, I’m wearing these restrictive and old fashioned clothes because I want to I’m not having any pressure put on me but it might be different if I wasn’t my choice, the big bra comes of next and my boobs fallout of it and take up a natural shape again leaving me in just the white bloomers pulled up over my waist what a contrast to when I came here. I shake my chest slightly and feel them move after the day they’ve had of being totally controlled.
Before my mind wanders any more I slip my ankle length nightdress on then my final piece my black hairnet and pull it over my ears and half way down my forehead mum must have been in pieces that first night after all her hair had been cut off and gran rapped a net tightly over her new curls for the first time.
I meet mum earlier the next day Grans starting to wonder were I’m off to all the time I don’t think she’s ready to know yet. This is my mission today to get mum to finally meet back up with Gran.
Mums their waiting in the same top and trousers she had on yesterday and now I’ve noticed them her roots are really prominent.
“Hi Samantha I thought we could go back to Carols later and have some lunch”
“That would be lovely”
We start to walk we’ve no were particular to go so head into the town centre,
“Mum how would you feel about meeting Gran again”
Mum pauses for a while as she considers what I’ve just asked
“I’d love to see her again and put all that behind us but I don’t know how she’d feel about me”
So I tell mum about how Grans still got her cut off pony safe so she’s always got part of her with her and also how she wrapped mine up with hers.
This brings a tear to mums eyes and we both stand in the park and hug as she sobs quietly.
“I couldn’t possibly meet her looking like this; I’d have to smarten up a bit”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind what you look like”
“Well after seeing my smartly turned out daughter may be its time I did care”
Mum runs her fingers through her unruly hair
“What would she think of this mop for a start”
With this we both have a giggle.
“Well if we need to sort you out theirs no time like the present”
We start walking back into town with a mission I think some of mums old clothes may still fit but don’t think she’ll want to go back to the house yet.
As we pass a charity shop a dress in the window catches my eye it’s a lovely light yellow colour with along flared skirt and a nice high lacy collar with short puff sleeves.
“That would be just the job for you mum”
“I don’t know Samantha I’m not sure that’s really me”
“Well just try it on”
We enter the shop and a lovely helpful old lady gets the dress down for mum, I send her into the changing room and while she’s in there find just the thing to go with it a nice white cardigan and some white court shoes in mum’s size.
She come’s out of the changing room and theirs something wrong with the way the dress hangs at the front then it dawns on me she’s not wearing a bra at all.
“I think we need to sort out your underwear for this to look right, I’ll have to get you some of you’re old bra’s”
“I don’t think they will fit any more unfortunately”
Then the lady returns to us
“We’ve just the thing for you just come in and I ‘m sure it will be you’re size”
She disappears into the rear of the shop, then quickly returns with a flesh coloured all in one support girdle with suspenders hanging from the bottom.
“Just what you need to set this off” she says as she hands it to mum.
I’m not sure Samantha I don’t mind a smarten up but this is”
Before she can finish I but in
“Mum just try it for me not for gran or any other reason please just for me”
“How can I argue with that” she replies and goes back into the changing room.
When she reappears it’s a great improvement and with out a word slips the shoes on and drapes the cardigan around her shoulders.
She turns and takes her self in looking in a full length mirror on the wall, she’s apprehensive at first but seems to accept the look far easier than I expected. She tucks her hair behind her ears she has no fringe as her hairs one length well below her shoulders but just moving it from her face opens up her persona and she looks far prettier than with scraggy purple hair dominating her face. This needs to be the next thing to change but how will this be accepted after Grans attempt to control her tresses.
We leave the shop and walk along the street she keeps looking at her self in shop windows her bust is certainly improved after the application of some nice firm foundation in fact she’s got a really good figure and now you can see what a full bust she has.
“Like you said mum you don’t want to see gran again with a big mop for hair, how about we get you smartened out now we have started the ball rolling”
“I suppose its time that I did something with my hair, I guess purple isn’t al; that suitable for some one my age may be a nice red would look better. I wonder were I could get a good colour around here”
Mum’s thoughts about what constitutes a tidy head seem to differ from mine, I’ll need to lead her around a bit on this one.
“You could always go were gran and I go”
“No way is Edith Murray ever getting her scissors on my hair again after the way she butchered my beautiful long hair last time, I just couldn’t enter that shop again it would still upset me even after all these years”
This could be a problem then I think of Claire who will be doing my hair later in the week I could always get her number from Alan, I’m sure she’d be able to give mum a good sorting out.
Before I can think any more in that direction we pass one of the hairdressers I tried when on my mission to have my own long hair cut and permed to please gran, this place is one of those cut price chain of salons with no need to book but no time to perform elaborate perms and sets like I wanted this could be just what we need.
“This looks just the place for us mum come on it doesn’t seem at all busy”
This is something of a understatement there are five stations but only the far one is occupied and there’s no other customers waiting.
Mum follows me in and I can see us both in a full length mirror on the far wall, what a contrast we make my very short hard curls so precisely in position straight back off my face and her messy long hair.
“Take a seat I’ll be with you shortly theirs only me on today” the stylist addresses us. She’s surprisingly young and can hardly be in her twenties not really what I was expecting. But she looks respectable enough not to much makeup and a nice clean white uniform all be it with trousers  and the most eye catching part a long thick chestnut pony tail just like I used to have. Looking at this makes me for some unexplainable reason reach up and touch were mine used to be but instead of a thick silk like hand full of clean hair as my fingers move down it completely smooth then when they go back up they rub against the tiny little bristles that have returned after Edith’s wet shaving just at this moment I have a tang of regret and loss for my lovely long hair now lying in grans dressing table draw.
But the sight of the lady in the chair puts all these thoughts to one side she’s about mums age and the hairdresser is just finishing of edging around her left ear, she has a very neat plain haircut tight into her neck and round her ears a straight fringe half an inch above her eye brows and a precise side parting no part of her hair can be longer than two inches and it tapers beautifully from the short clippered hair squared off in the nape. This is really set off by the untouched grey streaking through the dark of her natural colour.
Mum just has to have this cut.
The hairdressers just finishing now and brushes away the clippings from the lady’s neck she must have had this style when she entered as there is hardly any hair on the floor that is about to change.
The cape is removed and the client looks very happy and keeps feeling the little bristles at the back of her head as if she really likes the feeling.
She rises now and walks over towards mum and me and we get a close up of her lovely grey short back and sides, she smiles at me then with a surprised look on her face takes a double take she’s surprised as she comes close by how young I actually am to be wearing my hair like this she quickly tries to cover this up but I cannot help noticing she keeps taking a sly look at me, maybe I’ve got the style she always wanted but was too afraid to ask for. Putting all this from my mind I turn to mum who’s been looking through some hair magazines.
“How about this Samantha, it’s a lovely colour isn’t it” she says pointing out a picture of a model with a slightly inverted bob that sits just below her collar at the back the slopes down below the shoulders at the front and well conditioned honey blonde colour.
“It’s nice mum but don’t you think that its perhaps not what you need at the moment, may be a more mature style that will show a different side of you”
“Do you think that’s what I need Samantha”
“Trust me mum I know just what you need, and like I said please just trust me”
The hairdresser is gesturing towards the empty chair
“Come on then mum she’s waiting for you”
Mum looks at me nervously shakes her long mop then hesitantly goes and sits in the chair. The hairdresser shakes out a silver coloured cape and drapes it over mum lifting her hair up to tie it be hind her neck. With out a word being said she picks up a spray bottle and wide tooth comb the wets mums hair as she combs it through, obviously she has no intention of washing it first no wonder they didn’t want to do my perm here.
“Right then what are we doing then” the hairdresser cheerfully asks her pony bobs about as her head moves and reflects the light, I’d just like to touch it and feel how soft it is just like mine used to be. Stop it Samantha its time for business.
I stand and walk over to them approaching from behind I get quite close to the girl and can smell the scent of her shampoo as she turns to me and her pony flies out towards me.
“The lady who was here as we came in she had a lovely neat style that is just what we want for my mum here” I answer.
“Her hair was cut very short you know, you’d need to loose nearly all of this length to achieve that look”
“Yes we are aware of that” I answer again. I might be aware but mum wasn’t until a moment ago and looks surprised.
“Are you sure you want you’re hair cut short” she says to mum
Mum takes a deep breath then with a determined look replies
“Samantha knows what I need to be done” then looks away resigned to the coming cut.
“You do know there’s a lot of hair going to be cut of if you have this style don’t you. Now you must be sure”
I don’t have this problem at Edith’s if you want a cut there you get a dammed good cut and none of this messing about.
“Now we are very sure of the style and aware of how much hair will be cut off, so shall we start then, and by the way mum will not be needing any colour today either just a nice short haircut thank you”
The hairdresser has annoyed me now and I try not to show my anger as I go and sit back down, why can this girl not just do as people ask without all this bother. As I look at her now I’m not so impressed by her long pony tail in fact as a hairdresser she should be made to set an example by her employers and show the customers the type of cutting this salon should be capable of, in fact if she worked for me she would be in that chair pretty quickly and all that silly long hair would soon be on the floor. Maybe them she’d loose this I know best attitude and learn some humility.
Back to mum the girl has finally picked up her scissors, she’s lifting sections from the top up with a wide toothed comb and snipping them off large chucks of purple hair are falling away sliding down the gown and floating to the floor mums head is slowly changing colour from damp purple to a lighter grey she’s biting on her lower lip and not looking at all confident, but I know this will be worth it for her.
Her ears peeping through now on the left hand side and there’s a real contrast between the short left and long right.
The hairdresser is really moving now and the purple headed hippie has gone replaced by a shortish grey haired lady there is a real hair pile in a halo like circle all around the chair its purple in colour but now its getting a top dusting of silver.
The first part is finished now and as the hairdresser moves to her tools mums running her fingers in her now short hair and gives her head a shake.
Ready for the next part and her hair needs damping again then a straight side parting is combed into the left side mums hair seems to drop naturally for this and the hairdresser must have picked up on it, she’s changed scissors these have very fine combed blades a section of hair starting at the parting is lifted and she plants the scissors close to the scalp then moves them out along the hair closing as she moves, she flicks a damp lump of hair off then repeats this all over. This removes loads of weight and leaves mums once thick hair looking decidedly thin.
“I’ll start with a number three then work in a number two around the edge’s ok” the hairdresser asks
“That will be fine, and a nice square edge at the back to please” I reply
She fiddles with the attached comb the starts the clippers with a loud pop followed by a low hum. After my experience in Edith’s chair I flinch at this noise even though it’s not me receiving a clippering today. I cannot see what’s going on now as she’s in the way but the clippers note changes and I can envisage the clippers rising and the bristly path left by them, I’m distracted at this point a trendy young woman with bleached blonde hair half way down her back and someone I assume is her boy friend come in and sit in the waiting area by me. I can see the back of mums head now and it looks delightful a perfect short taper very tight into a nice square neck, her ears folded down now so the clippers can get in to remove the hair from around her ear.
The blonde girl whispers something to her boyfriend
“No you’ll be ok” I hear him say
Now she gestures to him all mums hair cut off over the floor, he just nods his head and smiles
“Please” she says to him in a loud agitated whisper
“You’ll be fine” he replies
This is getting interesting
Out of the side of my eye I catch her pointing out my hair to him and whispering in his ear.
Then I catch on to what’s happening my hard lacquered curls are immaculately in place and she probably thinks I’ve just had mine cut, then seeing mum with her prim little short back and sides and all her hair over the floor has given her a scare she’s probably come in to have her hair trimmed and after seeing mums and mine is ready to run out of the salon before the as she thinks scissor happy hairdresser gets stuck into her over processed long tresses, I wonder what her boy friends thinking as he seems only to happy for her to get into the chair next, maybe he’d love to see all that peroxide mop on the floor and a clean prickly neck and high straight fringe redefine his girlfriend.
Mums finished now and she has that high straight fringe to finish off the look, she looks like a different person a more feminine down to earth person now softer and more approachable in fact perfect for her meeting with Gran.
Out side the salon now and the back of mums neck feels brilliant.
“What do you think then mum”
“this style certainly isn’t what I had in mind earlier but I’m really surprised what a difference it makes to me, maybe this is just what I needed, fresh hair for a fresh start”.

Keeping the Tradition Alive Part 1

I've really been looking forward to this break, university has finished for the summer and I'm going to stay with my Gran. It will be good to catch up with her as I haven't seen her for a while. Growing up I've never really had the chance to get close to her as my Mum had a falling out with her a while before I was born and relations have always been a bit frosty since, mainly on my mums part. Its never been discussed much, I think it could be something to do with the way my mums always been a free spirited hippie type of person while gran has always seemed quite prim and very proper but she's always been lovely with me. Unfortunately we lost my granddad a few years ago so I'm determined to have some quality time with gran while I've chance.
Let me tell you about my self I'm Sam a 20year old girl and studying Law at university, I've never been a girly girl and always seem to be wearing jeans and a tee shirt, my one big feature is probably my hair which has always been very long near to my waist and a beautiful chestnut colour that I inherited from my mum. It's thick and shines in the light when I let it down although most of the time it's pulled back tight in a pony. I've never been tempted to colour it like most of my friends and in fact the only thing I do is give it a really good brushing every day which is quite relaxing.
The coach is pulling into the depot now and every ones collecting their belonging together, I can see Gran waiting dressed as impeccably as always with a silk scarf over her head tied under her chin.
"Samantha my dear it's so lovely to have you here" Gran greets me.
She holds me to her and gives me a small kiss on the cheek, all the old smells I associate with Gran flood back, face powder and hair lacquer, and it's just lovely to see her again.
Back at Grans house and its nice to have a rest after my long journey, we go up stairs with my bags and she show's me into what will be my room.
"This used to be you're mums room, I suppose I really should get round to clearing it out its still got some of her old things in here"
The room is a pleasant if old fashioned room with two wardrobes in it a chest of draws and a dressing table with an old fashioned mirror that is split into three parts with the two outer parts able to be turned.
The wardrobe on the left is empty so you can use that we'll need to clear you some draw space as you're mums old clothes are still in there, I left them there after she moved out hoping she might want them again but that was a long time ago and really I should have sorted them out long ago"
Talking about my mum seemed to be making gran sad. And she's sat down on the bed.
I open my case up and unpack most of my clothes into the ward robe wile doing this we chat and catch up what I've been doing. One question keeps coming into my mind and in the end I have to ask.
"Mum has never wanted to talk about how you came to fall out all those years ago, would you tell me what happened"
"Well it was a bit of both sides really, your Granddad and my self have always been very traditional in a lot of our values and actions, even the way we dressed and the way we dressed your mum when she was younger, well your mum always wanted to go to art college and when she did her circle of friends changed completely as did her attitudes to a lot of things, bearing in mind these were the 1960's when thing were changing at a frightening pace. Well the primly dressed young lady I wanted her to be wanted to dress and live as a one of the hippies' that were around then. Well I think your granddad and me over reacted to this and tried to impose our values and standards on to her and she rebelled against this."
"What bought it to a head Gran?"
"Well what coursed the big fall out was partly my fault, we found out that she was having a relationship with one of the lecturers a man quite a lot older that her and she was only about 19 at the time, and we tried to but a stop to this. I decided if she was dressed and looked like a lady then she may behave like one, and one Saturday got her up from her bed had her dress in a formal dress and took her to my hairdresser who cut her long hair and styled her to look like a lady."
This didn't go as expected all was quiet for a week then when I came home the following Saturday she had collected up some of her things and walked out. She moved in with one of her friends. I went round to see her the next day to sort thing out, but she'd barely talk to me and looked in a shocking state she was wearing loose hippy tie dyed clothes and her permed neat hair had been shaved off leaving just a bit of stubble, she looked like a convict. Over the next few years thing got a little better but she has never really forgiven me for trying to make her what I wanted her to be"
All this came as a bit of a surprise, mind even now mums still living that life style, she's in her fifties with purple long dread locks and living in Spain at the moment with a man much younger than her.
I suppose I can under stand Grans disappointment a little if not her over reaction dragging mum to her hairdresser and having her shorn it must have been a big shock. But mum can be difficult to, she gave me quite a hard time when I said I wanted to study law and she accused me of wanting to be part of the establishment. Gran on the other hand seemed to glow with pride when she found out and has helped me out a lot with money.
We leave this subject alone after this as I can tell it still hurts a little.
After a couple of days here we've settled into a lovely leisurely routine and its great just having time together, what I've really enjoyed is when we get changed for bed and gran brushes my long hair out with a lovely old fashioned hair brush and we talk about all sorts of things, I couldn't brush Grans for her as its tightly rapped in a pink hairnet to protect her curls, I'd never really noticed them before but Grans hair is always impeccably neat and her short white curls look really soft and springy except at the back were she has her hair line shaven higher to leave a perfect curve to her hair line and an exposed neck with tiny white hairs on it just showing were her natural hair line should be.
On Wednesday morning gran announced,
"I'll be going into town this morning to get my hair set, then have some lunch and do some shopping later it's up to you if you want to come along or stay here"
I haven't seen any of the town yet so a walk out might be nice,
"I'll come and wait for you while you're hairs done then lunch sound very nice. I'll go and get ready"
I go up stairs and sort out some clothes I've not unpacked properly yet as we haven't cleared any of the old clothes out yet, I just opt for my usual jeans and tee shirt I don't normally wear much makeup so a quick brush of my hair and then tie it back into a pony leaves me ready in no time.
"Ready gran" I call at the bottom of the stairs.
Gran comes through from the kitchen, smiles then stops,
"Err I'm not meaning to criticise but how about wearing a top that's a little less on show you may feel more comfortable around here"
Gran is referring to my boobs I had my nipples pierced a few months ago and with no bra as I usually go they do stand out erect, I'd got so used to this that I didn't think about it, but maybe its not only me who would fell more comfortable Gran would to.
"Sorry your right I forgot I'm not at uni now."
"Don't apologise my dear it's up to you what you wear and how you look"
"No Gran, the only trouble is the only bras I've bought with me are little lacy things that don't really cover any thing"
"Not to worry come up stairs I'm sure we can sort you out"
I follow Gran up stairs into my room
"Now you and your mum are really close in size, let's see what we've got you'd be more comfortable in"
I Smile to my self its not really what I'm comfortable in but what Grans more comfortable about her friends seeing me dressed in, but maybe erect nipples through a thin tee shirt aren't really the thing in a sleepy little town like this.
"Here my dear try this on"
Gran hands me one of mums old bras from the 60's the material is very thick and the straps must be an inch wide and instead of my usual two hooks on the back this one has six. Oh well if it makes Gran happy and no one I know is going to see me. Off comes the tee shirt and on with the bra it's the right size but huge my boobs are completely covered and stand out like two pointy cone there's no nipples on show now and its surprisingly comfortable. Back on with my tee shirt and were ready to go.
"There dear that does look better" Smiles gran.
It's a lovely warm day so I don't bother with a jacket and I must say these two cones certainly catch the eye there have been a few men I spotted almost staring as we walked through the streets.
First destination is the hairdressers I've no idea were we are going so just follow gran, I thought we'd be heading for the high street but instead we're walking through the back streets which are nearly all houses I can't see any shops.
"How often does you're hair need doing then gran"
"I get it set and my neck cleaned up every week and some times twice if I'm going some were special, and cut every month and a perm every three months. I feel it's important that a lady maintains her appearance as that's how she's often judged. You're granddad used to like me to be turned out smartly and always insisted even when money was tight years ago that my hair was always properly dressed and standards kept up, so I feel I owe it to him now not to let things slip. And besides it's a lovely relaxing feeling having a nice set."
"I suppose how he felt about your appearance flowed down into my mum's appearance to; I bet he was disappointed when she left"
"Yes it broke his heart when she left; I remember bringing her home from the hair dressers with a short tight neat head of curls and how pleased he was of how she looked. In fact there's a picture at home, it was a special service at church on the Sunday after she was cut on the Saturday and we dressed in our best and your mum and me were photographed by a friend out side the church she looked divine and we were both so proud that she was our daughter. I'll look that picture out when we get home"
All this talk of hair is interesting me now, hairs not something I usually even think about it's just on top of my head and always has been, in fact I've never even thought about styles or any thing I've just really long hair by default almost. Thinking about this has made me aware of my hair and I can feel my pony bouncing on my back as we walk the narrow street.
"Have you been coming to this hairdresser for long" I ask though I don't know what made me think of that.
"Yes I've always come to this one Edith Murray's been doing my hair for it must be nearly forty years and her mother had the shop before her, in fact it was Edith that did your mum's hair that time for me,
She's getting on a bit now though, but I hope she keeps going as she's about the last real ladies hairdresser in the town and I wouldn't want to go to one of those modern places"
This has got me quite excited I can't wait to see what a real ladies hairdressers looks like, I've very limited knowledge of any hairdressers as I usually just trim my ends my self as how long it is means I can get to it quite easily.
"Here we are then" Gran informs me
This doesn't look like a shop at all, in fact its just a converted terraced house front room and a pretty run down one at that there is a small space between the shop and the path covered with stone slabs which have cracked in quite a few places with quite big weeds pushing up between them, there's only a small sign in the window to tell you this is a hair salon and if I'd been looking on my own I would never have known it was one.
The paint on the window frame and door is peeling but what strikes me most is the net curtains covering the window I can guess that once they were white but not now, they have yellowed and look really dusty. For ladies who care so much about how there hair looks they don't seem bothered about there buildings.
Gran walk's up and opens the door I follow behind before I enter the door the smell spills out at me, it's really heavy and almost makes me cough it's a strange smell like nothing I've come across before with almost a hint of rotten egg to it, or may be that's my imagination running away.
Following gran in the bare floor boards cluck under our shoes, what a place this probably hasn't changed since gran first started coming here and could do with a good clean and dust not to mention the floor sweeping. There's no sign of the hair dresser but this doesn't seem to bother gran she's already slipped her light summer jacket off and hung it on a row of pegs on the wall by three old wooded chairs
"Sit your self down here dear Edith will be along in a minute"
The wooden chairs are hard and not that comfortable but with how unexplainably excited I am right now I wouldn't miss this, I'm finding this rather strange why would some one having there hair done interest me.
Were soon joined by the hairdresser, she must be well into her seventies with a thin lipped severe looking face with flabby jowls hanging from her chin. She's a very large woman with large breasts resting on top of her large stomach, her hairs very short and pure white and she stands before me wearing a nylon coat overall, wrinkled stockings and carpet slippers.
"Good morning Joan" the hairdresser addresses gran
"Good morning Edith, how are you today well I hope. I've my granddaughter Samantha with me today we are going to do some shopping later."
Samantha sounds a bit strange I'm always called Sam as I never have used my full name.
Edith's looking straight at me "Good morning young lady "
Good morning I reply quite timidly as from my first impression she's a bit over powering.
She seems to be looking me over and especially my hair which she probably can't see that well as its tied back behind me.
"Will you want an appointment to this morning" She's very direct with this question and I can feel my cheeks colouring up.
"No thank you I'm just waiting for gran"
"Suit your self, I've had a couple of young women become customers lately, and you look like you could do with a good sorting out"
For some one I've not met before she's quite rude really saying that my lovely hair needs sorting out and I dread to think what she did to the two young women who have been here, Gran is smiling to her self as if she's amused by my discomfort at having to deal with Edith.
She's put a faded pink gown on gran and the cords at the back are being tied, it's about time she got some new ones looking at the state of the one Grans wearing. In fact the whole place needs a face lift looking around its quite small inside straight in front of me is a single old fashioned chair on a heavy round base with a foot pedal to raise it up and a rest at the fronting. Hanging over the back of this is a faded pink cape. In front of this is a discoloured white sink mounted on the wall, with an old square mirror over this.
The mirror had parts round the edge were the backing had come away and no longer reflected. Either side of the sink, were work tops with hairdressing tools over one side and a small pile of shabby looking towels on the other. Hanging from hook under the top are large electric hair clippers. At the side of the chair is a trolley covered in perm rods and rollers. And along the right are two hood dryers in a faded cream colour with seats under them these look really old and one of the seats actually has tape stuck across it were it has split. I couldn't imagine any young women wanting to come in here never the two she's claiming do.
Grans in the chair now and a grey towel is draped around her shoulders and she leans into the sink with out a word being said. All this talk of hair has made me even more aware of mine now and I can't help my self running my fingers through my pony and feeling how silky it is there's quite a weight to it and I can't help wondering how it must feel to have short hair some thing I've never even considered. Gran has sat back up now after a vigorous shampooing and her hair has gone into really tight little curls that make it look even shorter than normal, Edith's tipping a liquid onto it now from a plastic bottle and combing it through, now she's picked up a small roller and has wound it into Gran hair starting at her forehead I would have said fringe but she hasn't actually got one. This roller is quickly followed by another then another until there is a row running from forehead to neck, the hairdresser works at incredible speed and soon the sides are filled in to. Gran looks strange covered in these small plastic tubes, while playing with my hair I'm wondering what they feel like, and whether they are uncomfortable.
Gran has a black net over her rollers now and it's tied at the back there are foam pads pushed over her ears, now Edith lets down the chair and Gran rises and follows her over to the dryers.
She looks really comfortable under there with a magazine.
As Gran cooks under the dryer I'm thinking about my mum, that must have been the chair in front of me that she sat in all those years ago as her long hair was cut off and given a tight perm, I can't imagine mum looking like that, although after seeing some of her old clothes in the wardrobe all longish skirts formal dresses and plain blouses perhaps she was a different person back then to the one I know.
I certainly couldn't imagine her wearing this big full bra that I've borrowed from her clothes it still feels strange to be thrust up like this. May be later I'll see what else she's got.
My thoughts now go to Edith's question about whether I want my hair 'sorted out' watching gran has been very interesting I've never seen this traditional hairdressing carried out, but I don't think I could submit my self to the type of style she'd give me, how could I go back to uni looking like a old lady.
I suppose long term I may have to do something about my appearance, I don't suppose I'm going to go far in the legal world with a casual big pony tail and jeans and a tee shirt this is a chain of thoughts I'd not considered before, may be I'll need to smarted up and wear more formal clothes, this will be different for at the moment I don't even own a skirt let alone a business wardrobe. I suppose I will be able to wear my hair up in a roll or something like that this would be different as I'm just not used to having to do my hair every morning and my hair is so thick and heavy it easily falls down when ever I have put it up.
May be I will have to have it 'sorted out' at some point, but not here.
Looking in the mirror across the room I can see my self my hairs pulled back, may be this is how I'd look with short hair I think it would suit my features and I turn my head a couple of times. I can see this bra standing out under the tight tee shirt it feels very feminine and the firm control is a nice feeling especially as I'm used to none at all.
I'm thinking things I've never considered before formal clothes, short hair, firm underwear what ever next. May be how would I look sat in Edith's chair the pictures in my mind for a moment one of those grubby gowns over me and my really long chestnut hair all over the floor being left with a short neat pageboy hair cut. NO
After all this day dreaming Grans done and Edith's taking her back to the chair.
The ear pads and net are carefully removed and all the rollers are there in perfect rows, She's removing little plastic picks from them but even with them out the rollers stay still, Edith has to unwind each roller and when there all out Grans got a small barrel of hair were each rollers been.
This whole process has me completely fascinated, especially the way each curl is now being worked into to set style I'm so used to always seeing on gran.
But this isn't over yet and Edith's now walked around the front and picked up the electric clippers, with out a word being said gran drops her head forward as far as it will go stretching out the back of her neck, the clippers go on now with a loud pop noise followed by a low buzz. I cant see what's happening now as the hairdresser is straight in front of me but the note of the clippers rises and so does the volume I wish I could see this, its not long before the clippers are turned off and Edith walks back to the counter surprisingly gran doesn't move her head back up, now I know why as Edith's scrapping a straight razor across the area she just clipped leaving completely bare skin behind, I can't help touching the back of my neck and feeling the weight of the long hair sprouting from it what a contrast to Grans back white neck.
Gran sits up and smiles their isn't a hair out of place I start to wonder how she keeps it in place, then my questions answered the hairdresser has a plastic bottle and is squeezing it to produce clouds of spray on to the precise curls she really is soaking it, not once but twice.
The process finally comes to an end and the seat lowers and gran rises looking very pleased with the out come.
She walks over and pays Edith
"Very nice again Edith, same time next week only I think I will need a cut as well as a set"
This seems strange to me as Grans hair is already short and just comes to the top of her ears and is well back of her face how short will it be after a cut.
I get up and follow Gran out of the shop her neck is just in front of me and looks so smooth were she's just been shaven I've never seen this on a woman before. And the spray smells very perfumed nice in a strange way.
"You looked like you enjoyed that Gran"
"Its one of the real pleasures of being a lady I always think having a nice set, most women don't know what their missing out on"
"She's completely shaven the back of your neck, how does that feel"
"That's one part I really like when all those fiddly little hairs are completely taken away and it feels really clean and free afterwards."
I can't help touching the back of Grans neck it's really smooth and cool, a total contrast to mine.
The rest of the day was very nice lunch then shopping every time I court sight of my self in a shop window or mirror I couldn't help feeling a little scruffy next to Gran.
We're getting ready for bed and I'm having a nice long brush out off Gran she's wearing her now familiar hairnet, the whole question of hair and image is running through my head.
"Have you always had short hair Gran?"
"No not always when I was younger I had long hair just like your's but in those days having long hair was associated with adolescence, when a young lady came of age she wanted to be seen as a adult and part of that process was adopting a adult hair style. My mother was quite strict about all this my two sisters and me were not allowed to have our hair cut until our 18^th birthdays, it became a rite of passage my elder sister had her hair cut short and permed on her birthday and so did I we couldn't wait and I remember how grow up I felt the first time I ever had a cut perm and set. When my elder sister had her hair cut it was platted first and she gave the long plat to my mother who kept it in her dressing table draw, so when my turn came I did the same and she kept them both together. The one I most remember though was my younger sister, I'm three years older than her and she always looked up to me and when my hair was cut she desperately wanted hers the same but my mother was steadfast and her hair could not be cut till she was 18, so on her birthday I took her to the hairdressers it was Edith's mother as it happens who did her, I remember as if it was yesterday how full of anticipation she was on the way there and how her golden hair glowed in the sun as it hung around her waist for the last time she was always petite for her age and looked younger than her actual age and this hair always seemed to cover her. When we went in the shop she couldn't wait to get into the chair and when her turn came proudly strode over and sat her self down her hair was all around her and came right over the back of the chair she looked so sweet and innocent about to be shorn of all her girlish locks. She sat in the chair absolutely motionless as her hair was platted like ours had been and I could clearly hear the shearing noise as her long braid was cut off"
"What style did she finish up with Gran?"
"Well her hair was cut much shorter very like mine is now when I get a cut, I've grow out quite a bit at the moment and she received a very tight perm and finally a lovely neat set"
"That must have been some change"
"Yes it was, I remember how she looked just as Edith finished her off her neck clean and exposed for the first ever time and her ears fully exposed and her face not hidden behind any fringe, her small head did seem strange at first as she looked so young to be wearing a prim ladies very short firm set but she was so proud of her self now she had under gone a kind of right of passage with all except for the braid of her girlish long hair spread over the floor. She couldn't wait to go home and our mother with the long braid, my mother put it in her dressing table draw along with my elder sisters and mine, she always treasured those and said she always had part of us with her"
Gran stops brushing and walks of into her bedroom with out a word.
She's soon back carrying a cardboard box and something long wrapped in thin wrapping paper. First she opens the long paper package rolled up inside is a very long braid of soft looking chestnut hair that could be mine from the colour.
"This is you're mums hair that I kept when she received her hair cut, just like my mother I kept this so that I to always had part of her with me, I now know it was a big mistake trying to force an elder generations idea of deportment on to her."
I pick up the braid its soft and so silky it slips through my fingers and the weight fells just like mine when its in a pony, what must it fell like to have most of you're hair quickly shorn off like all my relations seem to have had done to them. Gran now opens up the card board box and in it is an old photo album,
The first photo that catches my eye is one of Gran in her late teens with long luxurious hair that came right down her back.
"How old are you here Gran?"
"That was taken on the morning of my 18^th birthday a few hours later and all of that hair had gone"
Wow what a change the page is turned and there's the same Gran but with a very short severe looking short head of tight set curls, the girl has been replaced with a confident if very prim looking young lady. More pages turn all full of people very smartly and not at all casually dressed, I can't help thinking how very feminine all the women look with not one pair of trousers to be seen, what a contrast to the way I dress now on a daily basis. I wonder what it would feel like to be smartly turned out like they are maybe I'm missing out on something here. We come to a picture with four young ladies in smart clothes with skirts below there knee's all with the same very short tight curl's. There's gran in the middle and her elder sister to the far left and second from the left is her younger sister, and on the far right is their cousin, this photo was taken the day after her birthday and the cut Gran described to me earlier. She looks a lot younger than the others and the hair style does her no favours at all as she's been clipped really short around her ears and her hair is right back off her face
But they all look so happy and contented as if they wouldn't want their hair any other way.
We turn to the back of the book and there's a lot of pictures of my mum I've never seen before the resemblance between me and her in the pictures of her with long hair is striking but the picture that really shocked me was the last one in the book it was in colour unlike most of the pictures in the album, she was stood outside a church in a very formal charcoal suit with dark tights and her hair just like Gran's and her sister's I'd never seen her like this before ever and all though both her hair and style of dress were very old fashioned and severe she looked beautiful in a very soft feminine way, a way I surprisingly found appealing.
"That was the church anniversary sermon day, a bit of a special day each summer it our church that still goes on today, it just dropped that you're mum's hair had been cut the day before, I'd never seen her look so beautiful as that"
Gran's looking a little upset so we leave it there and turn in for the night.
I've been a wake a while now thinking about how mum looked and how I need to change my own looks if I'm to enter the conservative world of the law. My hairs spread out all around me and as I turn over I lye on it and it pulls. Mums clothes are still in the wardrobes and draws and curiosity's getting the better of me now. Before I've chance to look gran call's me for breakfast.
"Gran, when I hadn't a proper bra to wear yesterday it started me thinking that when I finish uni and I enter the world of work I'm going to need to smarten my self up considerably the only problem is I haven't a clue how to wear properly the type of formal clothes that I'll be required to wear if I'm to be taken seriously I was wondering if you could help me"
"Oh my dear I'd be delighted to help you, and I really think your doing the right thing these next few years could be critical for your career in fact while were on the subject I've some thing I have been wanting to give you for a couple of days"
Gran goes into her hand bag and brings out a check, she hands it me
"Gran this is for such a lot of money"
"I know my dear I want you to have that so you can finish your studies with out any distracting worries about money; I'm comfortably off and can easily afford it so why shouldn't I spend some money on something that gives me so much pleasure"
"Well all I can say is thank you so much, I a bit taken aback at how generous this is"
"Not at all child now let's get cleared away and have a look at sorting you out"
Gran's just finishing off down stair and I've come up to the bedroom I've still got the tee shirt and shorts on I've slept in looking in the mirror my pierced nipples are really obvious in fact to obvious so off comes my tee shirt and the first bar comes out, gran walks in just as I'm doing the second
"That's a good start I don't think those things are really setting the image you want to project, but this will help give you the correct foundation you need"
She's searching through one of mums draws and brings out a bra it's even bigger than yesterdays and as I put it on it comes down almost to my navel, after how generous Grans been I don't feel I can refuse her and she looks so happy. This big thick thing has a firm hold that borders on rigid I don't think my boobs would move even if I tried a trampoline they are sticking straight out like two pointed cones and gran looks so happy as she adjusts the straps for me.
"That's so much better and will help you're posture no end. Now off with those other things"
The rest are removed and gran doesn't look to impressed by my thin Brazilian wax
"Oh dear still it will grow back"
It's not on show long as she's found me a pair of large white silky knickers, there about the same size as the short I just took off I'm instructed to pull them up properly and they come up over my hips and still come down my legs a little. A quick look in the mirror wow these are so different to any thing I've worn before.
"Now no lady should be going around with bare legs it's just not the done thing"
More rooting in the draws and she's handing me a suspender belt although the correct size its large and comes over my hips and the thick suspenders hang down, this is going to be different. She opens a new packet of light tan stockings so I sit down and put them on these feel very nice and smooth, Grans helping attach the suspenders. I've always associated stockings with glamour models not primly dressed ladies but obviously I was wrong, I feel as if I've been trussed up in these as there not very comfortable and as I move the straps move across my legs, but the overall effect of all this is nice it's a bit like dressing up in a costume and Grans really enjoying herself.
"There I'm sure that fells far nicer than those silly little thongs you were wearing, we were always told that good foundations are what dignity is built on"
Studying this in the mirror confirms that my foundations are defiantly solid.
Next a full cream slip finished of by a pale blue dress with a flared out skirt section that falls well below my knees long sleeves and a high round neck leave me very smart and feels very feminine, the dress is close fitting at the top so my firmly held boob's give me a hourglass figure, surprisingly I actually like what I see.
"Now let's finish you off"
I'm seated at the dressing table and gran brushes my hair then winds it into a tight high bun and pins it in place the look is quite severe as all my hair is tightly scraped straight back off my face,
"Now it's not the done thing for a lady to have a shiny face so you'll need some of my powder"
My face has a good dusting then a pale pink lip stick and I'm finished well I thought I was.
Take those silly earrings out dear"
I've two studs and two sleepers in at the moment, so both are removed to be replaced by two small pearl studs.
I stand and walk over to the full length mirror on the front of the ward robe, I can't resist a twirl and watch my dress twist out a little and the fall back well below my knees, and touch my fixed bust sticking straight out in two perfect cones. I look so different and have a little giggle.
Turning around and Grans crying.
"Gran what is it" I ask in a concerned voice.
"I'm sorry my dear I was just so over come by how beautiful you look, it's just like I had you're mum back as we were all those years ago, you're the splitting image of her when she used to wear those clothes."
Gran holds me close for a moment and the sobs just keep coming.
"I'm sorry to upset you I'll take these things off at once"
"No please don't, I'm just over come by emotion partly how you look just how you're mum used to look and part how beautiful you are just now, please keep them on for a while for me"
How could I refuse Gran this, besides I actually find it a little exciting wearing these very feminine clothes and especially the feel of these suspenders over large silky knickers this is all new to me, a bit uncomfortable but a bit special to.
Gran soon collected her self and has sent me into the town to pay the cheque into my account; she needs a little time to get sorted out as two of her friends will be calling for tea this afternoon. Gran is very keen that I meet them. This dress feels lovely although I do feel a little self conscious dressed up like this perhaps if I take up formal dress for my profession I'll try more modern cut suits and skirts and perhaps tights although the stockings are growing on me and Gran says their a lot more healthy than tights she said something about letting the air get around what ever she meant I'm not sure but they are very elegant even with the large old belt I'm wearing.
I've paid in the money it's taken me aback how generous she's been, I just wish there was some thing I could do for her to show how grateful I am.
"Ladies I'd like you to meet my granddaughter Samantha she's staying with me for a while"
"How do you do young lady" I'm greeted by Mrs Greenway she looks a bit of a forceful old lady used to her own way at home I've no doubt.
"Very well thank you a pleasure to meet you"
"It's nice to see a young woman properly turned out now a days" is the greeting I get from Mrs Crawford. Who's looked me up and down from over her horn rimmed glasses?
"Thank you" is all I can manage for a reply and almost feel the need to curtsey before them.
Tea is going well I serve it up for Gran so she can have more time with her friends, and I'm quite relived to be out of the way. When I rejoin them their questions are quite direct.
"Tell me my dear have you always dressed so appropriately" asks Mrs Crawford
"Not always Gran is helping me to dress correctly"
"That's the trouble with a lot of these young girls their not raised with any knowledge of standards like we were, they go around immorally dressed with nothing left to the imagination, I our day we learned correct foundations led to correct restraint in all things, if you know what I mean" comes Mrs Greenways opinions on the matter.
"I'm so pleased for you that you're opinion is being sort" Mrs Crawford addresses to Gran, this seems to please Gran who gives me an approving nod of her head.
I'm not involved in the rest of the conversation so sit quietly.
"Were getting the church ready next week for the anniversary sermons later in the week, I trust you and Samantha will be attending" inquires Mrs Crawford.
"I don't think I've ever missed one, I do so look forward to it and this year will be special as I'll be accompanied by my Granddaughter looking so elegant"
This statement makes me blush, then starts me thinking back to the photograph album and the picture of my mum at these same sermons with her hair cut very short.
I'm pulled out of my thoughts by the announcement that the ladies are leaving now and its time to see them out.
Grans gone up stairs and I've just finished washing up, I go up to her but stop before I enter her room. She's sat on her bed holding to her my mothers long cut off plait, she's lost in her thoughts so I'll not disturb her.
I go down stairs and into the front room, the photograph album we looked at the other day is still on top of the side board, I feel drawn to it and sit down and for no reason I can explain turn to the picture of my mum out side the church with her freshly cut short curls. She's dressed in a style just like I am now and it's possibly the same bra I'm wearing now looking at the shape of her bosom. What's drawing me though is her hair and how proud gran look's to be of her with her own matching perm. Something then strikes me if I look like mum dressed as I am now then the picture is what I would look like if I ever had my hair cut off and permed like that.
I'm lying here in bed and thinking about what Gran has done for me by giving me this money, I'll be able to give up my part time café job and concentrate solely on my work now all my debt is cleared, and how in a few weeks when I go back she will be left on her own again. When I think now about her holding my mums plait to her for comfort that the idea comes to me, how I can give her a part of me to hold onto. I start playing with my pony tail its silky from the good brushing it has received again tonight, for someone who never gave her hair a second thought it been in my mind a lot the last few days. I'm really not sure if I could go through with this idea. I'm wide awake now with not a hint of tiredness any more. The main points form in my head.
1 Why would I cut my hair short?
To present Gran with my plait to keep with my mums, and show her how grateful I am to her.
2 How much should I cut?
I'd need to give her a full long plait like all the others had done in the past for it to have as much meaning to her. So it would be a big sacrifice for me. With how Gran has reacted to my adopting her conservative dress style today, really pleasing her would probably mean a perm like she made my mum have.
3 When would be the best time?
It's the special service at church this weekend that Gran assumes I will be attending with her, thinking of the picture of mum and how proud Gran was that day and how smart they all looked turned out in their best. I suppose if I had it done in time for that it would make Gran very happy.
4 If I did that what would be the reaction of my friends at uni?
Every one would be really surprised to see me return from the summer break with a short perm, although though by then it will have had time to grow out a bit and so wouldn't look so prim. There are a couple of girls who have naturally curly hair and one has hers cut quite short and that looks ok so I could just let it go natural and look like her, then again some of my friends are always using straighteners so I could even do that.
As far as getting a job, I'll probably have to do something with it all shortly any way if I am to look at all professional.
5 Where would I have it done?
Well it would probably please Gran most if I kept up their tradition and had it done where she and all her sisters and my mum were all shorn of their long hair. All though after being there with Gran while she was set I'm not sure if I could put my lovely hair in the hands of that old relic. But if a style like mums is what's needed she's probably the best hairdresser to do it.
No this is all getting to silly there's no way I'm giving my hair over to that old women to hack off. And with this final thought roll over and try and go to sleep.
I'm awake late and get up and sit in front of the mirror the thoughts still in my head and pull my hair back and imagine how I'd look with it all gone, could I really go through with this.
I go down for some breakfast there's a note from Gran she's gone to the church to help get every thing ready for Sunday its Thursday to day so they must have a lot to do, she won't be back till late afternoon so I've all day to my self.
Back in my bedroom and may be it's time I was dressed the question is how will I dress, I could slip back into my jeans but actually don't want to instead I'll have a look what's here. First stop and its underwear no problem it's got to be suspenders again although uncomfortable they fell really glamorous. This time instead of the tan ones that Gran dressed me in I pick some black ones and put them on these look even better and I love the contrast between my pale thigh and the dark band around the top my calves and ankles look even thinner in this colour. I'll need something to go with these and find a dark grey skirt that ends mid calf even longer than yesterdays and to contrast that on a hanger is a white twin set, the first sweater is tight and clings to by cone shaped boobs and the cardigan placed over my shoulders gives the outfit a soft finish. I'm pleased with this appearance and to finish it there are some black shoes in the bottom of the wardrobe with two inch heels although these may not seem that high, for someone used to wearing trainers these will take some getting used to.
Sitting at the dressing table its time to do something with my hair, it would be much easier if it was short I think to my self, I wind it into a coil and pin it at the back of my head it takes a while to do this and a piece comes loose almost as soon as I've finished. I'll be faced with this every morning when I finish uni and cannot have my hair falling out of its style at important moments that's not going to be very professional, that's when my minds made up I'm having my hair cut shorter maybe a bob I could still give Gran a plait maybe not such a long one. I give up on the coil and plait my hair into one long pony much neater, then I think about my mums plait and go through to Grans room and get it out, holding it next to mine I can see in the mirror her hair must have been about the same length as mine but mines just a bit darker this starts me thinking about how hers was styled and how Gran so wanted her to come of age and become a lady just like she and her sisters all did, and how proud she looked showing mum off in the picture. And right now Gran is out preparing for the same event. Should I do this for her really a haircut is a small thing to do as it will grow back, compared to what Gran has done for me. I put the hair back and go down stairs.
Opening the album back to mums picture I take out my phone and copy the photo before me, I've no idea what to ask for so this seems the easiest way.
Right my minds made up so I set off into the town to look for a hairdresser.
After wandering around for a hour I'm stuck with a problem, I've found two salons but both of them are not really what I want in fact I've been into one and shown the receptionist my picture on my phone and she told me that the style I wanted wasn't their type of thing, in fact she was quite of hand with me, the other salon a very trendy looking place took one look at my clothes and told me they wouldn't be able to fit me in for a appointment for some time.
What to do??
This left one alternative if I could find my way there, Gran's hairdresser Edith!!
I'm not sure if I'm ready for this but I set off anyway I could just make a appointment then have a good think about this and make sure it's what I really want to do I suppose.
After a couple of wrong turns I've found it, I'm approaching her salon now the lights are on but can I go in. Just making an appointment has my hands shaking and my tummy in a knot.
I go to the door I cannot see through the nets at the window but when I'm at the door I can see she's in there with two elderly ladies one in her chair and one under the dryer, no way can I go in there with others to watch me.
I quickly turn and continue walking past as if I never intended going in.
At the end of the next street is a small café I don't know what to do so go in for a coffee and settle my nerves.
Half an hour later after nursing a coffee it's time to pull my self together and remind me why I'm doing this. So I set off back to the salon walk nervously up to the door and peep inside, the place is empty this is my chance so a deep breath and push my self through the door.

The door needs a shove as its stiff, I nearly jump out of my skin as a loud bell gives of a single sharp note then the smell hits me. The other two salons I've been in today had distinct hair spray smells as you entered but this place might chock you as you take the first breath on entering. My hearts now pounding I'm so nervous.
I walk in and stand by the small counter and wait, there's no sign of Edith so I glance around again this place belongs in one of those town museums like one we visited once when I was at school only those places are for show this place still does business.
The chair draws my eye's the exact one were Gran's younger sister eagerly jumped into to have all her long hair cropped off to prove her coming of age and the same one that my mum no doubt reluctantly submitted her self to sit in as her fashionable long tresses were removed and Gran's will imposed on her.
"And how can I help you young Lady" comes Edith's strong voice. She gives me a surprise as I hadn't notice her come out off a small door at the rear of the salon.
"Err I'd like to book an appointment to have my hair cut please" I manage to get out, I'll just book an appointment then I've got time to make my mind up if I really want to do this.
"This is a ladies hairdressers, for ladies not silly young women with messy long hair; if you are to be cut at all here I'll make it clear you will be receiving a appropriate hair style. If that's not acceptable you better go now"
I'm taken aback she's all but thrown me out and this could be my last resort if I cannot find any were else more suitable.
"Err that's the sort of thing I had in mind" I stutter. I'm not sure what it is about this women but she terrifies me.
"And what exactly did you have in mind my girl, something fancy no doubt"
She's starring me straight in the eyes as she say's this.
It takes a bit of fumbling in my hand bag to find my phone and she's clearly getting impatient, at last I can show her the picture I copied of mum.
This seems to please her.
"Yes that style will be acceptable"
"When do you think you will be able to fit me in please?" A couple of days time would suit me best and give me time to think this through so I can make sure this wont be a big mistake.
She hasn't answered me but has walked over to the waiting area with its old wooden chairs and picked a shabby looking gown off a peg.
"Take you're cardigan off and we will get started, time like the present"
No this isn't what I planned on I'm not ready for this at all.
"Err I just want to book the appointment today thank you"
This seems to annoy her.
"Do you want you're messy hair sorted out or not, you should think you're self grateful that I'm even considering taking you as a client never mind thinking you can start to mess me around. Now are we cutting that hair yes or no make you're mind up"?
All this has knocked me back and I feel so intimidated I cannot speak for a minute I've the feeling ether I have my hair cut here and now or she'll throw me out and tell me not to come back.
"Come on girl I haven't all day" she hurries me. I feel I've no option and slowly take my cardigan from my shoulders and place it on one of the chairs. Whether I like it or not I know I'm about to receive a complete new look and I don't think I'll have much say in it.
She shakes the gown and a few short grey hairs fall from it then holds it up for me to slip my arms into the stained faded old thing is pulled up to my neck and she moves around to my back my hair is in its plait so doesn't get in her way as she tightens the cords at my neck, I completely covered in this shabby looking thing.
"Over here then" I'm told
The chair awaits me, I'm struggling to control my hands their shaking and getting into her chair feels more like an execution than a hair cut. I try to remind my self why I'm doing this.
I'm in the chair looking straight at my self in the mirror in front of me my long hairs pulled back in the plait and this gowns completely covered me my head looks strange poking out the top, there's a foot rest in front of me to put my feet on, this is it then I'm to receive the same as my mum did all those years ago. Oh my I can't help it and start crying I don't know why but can't stop, I'm not ready for this.
I've not noticed what she is doing as my eyes are full of tears but I feel my braid lifting and scissors starting to shear through it the shearing noise they make sounds really loud and she's really pulling on it as the hacking goes on. I can feel hair starting to fall around my chin and as my eyes clear slightly in the mirror I see me with a rough chin length bob starting to form, the tension on my hair eases off as the long braid comes away in her hand, it looks just like mums with a fat blunt cut uneven end and a thin softer end. Edith drops this on the counter top and most of my hair sits there detached from me.
Before I even have chance to get used to this first part of my change a old greyed towel is placed over my shoulders and with out a word she puts her hand on the back of my head and pushes me forward in to the old stained sink in front of me. I can feel my suspenders move against my thighs as I go forward and she has me waiting as the water warms, then its on me and I have to move my head more into the sink as the water's going into my eye's.
It's the shampoo now it's cold as she pores it on, now she goes to work to say its vigorous is no under statement and for an old lady her hands are very strong, its strange feeling as most of my hair is missing now.
Another rinse and more water goes into my eyes.
"Right sit your self up then" she instructs
I'm looking at my self, what a sight I've this grubby looking faded gown covering me completely and a shabby grey towel rapped around my head, non of my friends would believe what I'm putting my self through,
The towel is removed and draped over my shoulders again and she moves to the front to pick up her tools, I take the chance to shake my head its light and strange and my hair whips round and hits my face. I want to touch the back but before I can she's back with a comb and some scissors. The hairdresser looks quite pleased with her self now and starts to comb out my new bob.
"Let's get this nicely curt then shall we, now don't worry if it doesn't seem short enough at first as I will finish the style cut after you've had a nice tight perm"
And with out any more being said lifts up a section from the top of my head and cuts it straight off, in one hit a large piece of hair that must be over 10" long falls down on to my lap. Never mind her don't worry comment the piece left is only a couple of inches long in my book that's very short already.
The more she cuts the more my heart pounds, most of my top hair is now spread over me, lying in thick clumps on my shoulders and spread like a curtain down my gowned front and there is my head on top of all this my once long luxuriant hair replaced with a short boys hair cut and still she cuts more, this is just all too much and the tears just start to flow and there is nothing I can do to stop them. This doesn't seem to bother her at all and she starts to hum a tune as cuts, the hair is really building up in my lap now its damp and holding together in the clumps it was cut off in, that's the top done and my head is pushed over to the right and she's cutting around my left ear again the scissors are relentless and soon my ear is exposed to the light the strange thing is the hair hasn't been shaped round my ear at the front but cut straight across leaving a blunt step now over my head goes to the left and my other ear gets the same the most upsetting part is she doesn't seem to be taking much care were she cuts and my hair is falling in chunks rather than layers this is just so beyond my control at this moment I don't think I could get the words out to tell her to stop and how could I walk out of here with this uneven mess in stead of a hair style, she must know what she's doing to leave gran looking so neat and tidy, I've no choice now but to sit here and accept that my hair has nearly all been cut off and its my own fault for coming here in the first place. With the second side finished my head is moved forward so my chin is on my chest I can't see what she's doing now but the relentless shearing sound continues as I feel her cropping the back of my head.
"There that didn't take long did it, and it must feel better already to be rid of all that childish silly hair"
At this moment looking at my roughly cropped hair it didn't feel at all better in fact I wish I'd never started all of this, what will I look like.
She wheeling up a trolley covered in rollers although there not like the ones she used on gran these are very small solid looking with a elastic strap hanging loose from one end.
"Right then my dear we're ready for the perm rods, I'm giving you a very small one to curl your hair very tightly I always do this for a young lady's first perm so the hair really gets the full benefit of the perm solution, I'll also use my strongest solution as you've quite thick hair and I don't want you coming back complaining that you're curls haven't taken properly"
Using a comb with a long tail on it combs up a piece of my new fringe and wraps it around one of the small pink rods as she calls them the elastic strap is pulled over and fastened and I have my first one in its very tight and I can feel my hair pulled, does it need to be this tight or is she just being cruel I wonder.
This one is soon followed by many others as she works to the back of my head in a straight row, this is followed by another till I've two straight rows going over the top of my head the rods are so tight this is hurting.
Down the sides now and the hair between the top rows and my ears is rolled up, I can see the skin around my ears stretching to accommodate the tension on my hair. Both ears look very exposed and stick out a bit with the pulling on my skin, even when my hairs back in a pony I don't feel as exposed as this makes me look.
"That's that done now the solution a good strong one for a real perm like you're having none of those half-hearted silly body perms that they do now a days"
She must think me rude but I just cannot manage to speak I'm so in shock at this moment, but manage to bring my hands out from under the gown and gather up all the hair that's lying over me, is so soft and shiny and there's a real big hand full all cut off and gone, sensing my becoming up set again.
"Here give that to me, I'll take it out of you're way you don't want all that hanging about do you dear"
I want to keep it all as proof I once had beautiful hair and not just the short bit I've got now, but I hand it over and she puts it all straight into the bin this seems symbolic somehow as if she's saying you were beautiful but not now I've had my scissors on you're long tresses. With that gesture its as if my youthful care free outlook has been cutaway as much as my hair has and it dawns on me I'll leave her today looking just like gran and people will treat me accordingly including any prospective future boyfriends. The perming will only make this more evident as the name says permanent this will be, may be the close crew-cut that gran described mum as having was her only alternative to the tight curls gran had forced on her this makes my reflection all the more shocking.
A band of cotton wool is being placed around my hairline now and the white of this makes my skin look even paler and it sticks my ears out were it passes around them.
"Now to give these a good soaking"
The solution is freezing I didn't realise how sensitive my scalp was until now and shudder with the shock she really laying it on heavy it's quite a big bottle she's opened I thought at first it would be for more than one perm but the bottle is completely empty now and my hair glistens in the reflected florescent light.
"Lets just cover you up then you can have a little heat to help it take"
The solution is irritating my sensitive scalp and I really want to scratch all over but a yellow plastic cap a bit like a big swim cap is covering it all now, do I look a sight.
"Come along dear over here "I'm briskly instructed
She's raised the visor on the right hand dry and means for me to sit under it, these dryers look ancient and I worry if their still safe, there again I'll probably look like I've had an electric shock when she's finished with me I chuckle to my self, I'm please I can still be amused after all that's just happened.
The visor comes down on me now and the motor starts up, looking at the empty chair surrounded by my cut hair brings home to me its all gone now and I'll have to face the world with out my trade mark hair. Still if this is what's needed to make gran really happy then I don't suppose it's that much really to loose, and I've still got four weeks till I go back to uni I should be able to grow out quite a bit by then as long as she doesn't cut much more off my hair must be the same length as mums now even though hers looked shorter around the edge I suppose that may be the way it curled up, so with a months growth and thinking back when I was in sixth form one of the girls had a perm then on her long hair and it didn't last long at all so the curl will be relaxed quite a bit by then and I'll go back with a length a modern salon will be able to rescue something from and not leave me looking like a old lady.
The itching is becoming unbearable now and I want out from under here now, I've never felt any thing like this in fact I think I'd prefer going to the dentist than having my hair done if this is what's entailed, how gran could describe this as relaxing I'll never know. She's coming over now and about time to.
"Right then young lady lets see how your curls have taken"
The dryer stops and the visor rises.
"Lean forward please"
The caps pulled back and she's messing with one of the rods on top, I hope she's taking them all out now as they are still pulling.
"That seems to have taken very well, so back over here with you"
Back in her chair and the towels back around my shoulders
Surprisingly the chair turns round and the back lowers so my heads in the sink. With not a word she carries on I don't know what's happening all I can see is the yellowed ceiling with a large crack running across it and there's even cobwebs around the light fitting were have I come. Suddenly with out a warning freezing liquid pores on to my head the rods are still in and warm from the dryer so this is a real shock I though it was finished then the smell hits me hard ammonia who would put that on your head I thought that was for cleaning and then wearing thick gloves what's this going to do to the condition of my hair.
"Now you'll need to stay their wile the neutraliser does its work".
This is really uncomfortable and my eye's are starting to water not from the sorrow of what's happened to my hair this time but from the horrible fumes surrounding me I hope this all washes out.
It seems like an age before she comes back and starts to run water over my head what a relief, the rods are being taken out now and I can hear them drop into the sink a few times it hurts were the hair is pulled as she not at all gently removes every one I count them as she does them to take my mind off what's happening sixty two and that's it all done that seems an awful lot to fit on to one head but they did look very small.
"A nice wash and condition and you're done you'll be pleased to know, I don't think any one really likes having the perm done but all my ladies realise the outcome is worth the inconvenience".
This was more like torture than mere inconvenience, this better be worth it is all I can think though again dare not say any thing.
In no time at all I'm sat back up facing the mirror my hair covered by the towel, this is it then the moment of truth.
The towels removed and I'm faced with a surprised looking girl with her head covered in very small almost afro curls I can see were every rod was and the vision just leaves me in shock. Oh my god this is nothing like the nice soft curls the girl at school had and looks a short poodle's fur.
"Oh my that's turned out really well its nice to have some nice fresh young hair to work on for a change, you must be really pleased with how tightly the curls have all pulled in"
"Err its very nice indeed"
That's all I can mange to get out although its not what I'm thinking.
The ends of the curls aren't looking very neat and the hair has really curled away from my ears and forehead in a not very even line. I can't help reaching out my hand from under this gown and touching the curls there surprisingly soft and never having had any type of curl before find them very strange to touch and I start to feel along the top of my ear and then my neck.
"Don't worry dear I haven't finished yet we still need to tidy them up and sort you're neck line out"
What does she mean tidy them up, I remember she said she was going to cut more off after the perm, oh no its to short now, and as for 'sorting out my neck' it dawns on me she intends to shave me just like she did gran. I hadn't considered this before, my heart starts to really pound at the prospect of this I need to get control of my self and remind my self what I'm doing here this isn't a normal visit to a average hair salon this is a sacrifice of my hair to show my gratitude to gran for all the help she's giving me so if that means having a electric razor taken to my hair then so be it, I'll be able to sort something out when I go back to uni I'm sure. In fact if it wasn't clipped then I'd be letting her down a little so I make up my mind that I'm going through with this all the way, in fact I become resigned that my hair is now short and curly so there's nothing I can do about it. Remember this is for gran.
With that final statement in mind I finally find my voice and manage to speak out.
"What did you have in mind for my neck line?"
I just had to find out.
"Well that's up to you really how far you are prepared to go; I can either give you a neat curl under that follows your natural hair line that would be ok I suppose, or we could raise the hair line a give you a nice even line to curl under that can look very nice. The other option is a taper on the nape leaving the hair close and blending into the curls, or some of my ladies like a nice clean neck blended in quite high, I must be honest it does look a bit severe but the overall image it gives off is delightful unfortunately theirs not the demand for this as their once was. Now then it's up to you to make your mind up what's it to be"
I wasn't expecting questions like this and am court of balance looking at my tiny curls there very short already but in the spirit of my new found strength and my commitment to please gran with my heart now thumping and voice hesitant I say
"I'd like the last one please"
And worried that she'll pick up on my earlier tears and only go a little way with me add.
"Now I don't want you to hold back and not give me as severe a cut as those other ladies get, I'm prepared for you to give me the full treatment"
This mouth full surprised me as much as it did the hairdresser.
"Now are you very sure this is what you really want, I'm more than happy to give you this but you need to be sure"
With a heart that feels as if it's coming through my chest its pumping so hard I answer
"Yes no holding back"
This really pleases her and she pats me on the shoulder in a friendly manner, then goes to the counter and picks up her clippers. The first thing I notice is that unlike when I've seen a boy friend have a haircut in the past there is no plastic guard on them all she has is the bare clippers and a comb. The black cable is pulled a cross and hangs down laying on me contrasting to the pale gown.

Pop they start up then a low drrrrr noise continues on, I cannot believe I'm about to have clippers used on me if anyone had suggested this a few weeks ago I would have looked at them as if they were mad.
She places the comb at the side of my head on the right hand side just above the level of my eye brows the comb goes in then disappears in to the tight little curls, the clippers are placed on my temple then with one movement she raises them up the note changes and the volume increases and with one practiced movement of her wrist they shear through a path and ride up the comb and the curls built up on the clippers are flicked off into my lap this only takes a couple of seconds but the result will take months to replace on the side of my head I now have a strip of dark shadow it couldn't even be described as stubble and full curls lie in my lap before I can take this in she's on to the next strip and the curls dropped onto the gown double.
"There I don't think I need to take you any higher than that"
I would hope not, my hopes of looking any thing like normal by the time I go back to uni have just vanished along with the hair on top of my ear. She finishes round this side then pushes my head straight forward the cord hits me in the chin as she alters her position behind me then I feel them low on my neck the throbbing makes me quiver I didn't realise my neck was this sensitive
"Hold still girl how can I clip you if you keep moving about" Comes a sharp voice.
It doesn't take long for her to work around to my remaining ear it's a big contrast one ear completely exposed with just shadow to surround it and the other ringed by small curls, one stark and bare the other softer, then that changes as the last of my sideburns are completely removed, and I've two small ears, oh no they look like they stick out now they are exposed for the first time ever, my face looks much thinner with all the side hair removed and a curly mushroom of hair on top, I told her not to hold back on me and she certainly hasn't.
"that does look nice don't you think dear, I'll just finish off the edges I do like to see I nice crisp edge don't you"
I can't speak right now all my neck and temples feel strange and light and cold wile she puts the clippers back I take the chance to feel my new neck, my hand falls just at the base of the curls and glide down a very smooth silk like neck the touch of my fingers on my neck is electric then I run them up and every thing changes its rough with tiny bristles that tickle the tips of my fingers they feel minute. Before I have chance to take this in properly she's back behind me with a straight razor and pushes my head back forward.
Scraping the lower part of my neck, the dry razor does glide that well and I'm trying very hard not to move.
"You silly girl I told you to be still now you've made me nick you"
I felt the razor cut me and now she's put some tissue on it, she cut me the old bag.
With a piece of tissue on the back of my neck she finishes off the rest of my hair line, folding down my ears as she scrapes around them. I'm left with a very neat line in the shadow what makes it odd is that it's about half an inch higher that my hair line should be an my temples and ears join up in a straight line across the top.
"We just need to trim the ends on top now and that's you cut, oh and of course you'll want that fringe off wont you"
Its bad enough being given a short back and sides I don't want the one last thing that softens the look slightly removed.
"Actually I'd like to keep the fringe I think I need it to soften my face a little"
"Nonsense a young lady submitting to this type of style should give herself over totally or not at all, if she's not prepared to loose all of her girlish good looks and accept being given a neat conservative look that isn't out of place with ladies old enough to know how to dress and behave in line with a code of conduct that seems to have slipped now a days she has no business coming into a ladies hairdressers and wasting every ones time"
This is all very intimidating I've the feeling if I don't agree totally with what she wants to do she will throw me out as I am now with uneven curls on top, resigning my self to the fact my fringe is about to totally be removed I manage to answer her in a timid voice.
"Please do what ever you think necessary I'll leave every thing now in you're hands"
This seems to please her
The little curls are held up and a half inch piece cut from each one this makes them pull in even tighter to my head and they all lie evenly, now she comes to my fringe I cannot watch this and close my eye's in resignation, I feel chucks of hair falling over my face but still can't look
"That's the way a bubble cut should look"
With this statement I open my eye's and see what's been done for the first time.
Oh my after an afternoon of shock this is just one to many and my eyes fill up with tears again, I look so stark and plain the hair starts at the very top of my for head there's nothing to soften my face at all, its all gone.
My lap has a lot of hair in it again including the full curls that were my fringe they've dried out a lot now and the cut hair looks different to the hair cut off earlier, these curls don't shine like the pre perm hair did not only has all my length been taken away but so has the condition that make it look alive and reflect the light now its just dull, and so will I look probably.
Now we've to options to finish you off the hair can be let dry naturally and you'll have nice tight little curl as you have now, but you will be having a nice traditional set, I do like my ladies to be finished properly and the discipline of maintaining a set is what all you youngsters are missing out on these days, formal hair is the path way to a formal life style"
With this statement she picks up another plastic bottle and starts to comb the contents on to my head this one smells but instead of the ammonia the perm chocked me with this is a strong perfume that reminds me instantly of gran and her friends, not only am I going to look like them I'm going to smell like them to.
Suddenly to stop me in my track of thought some of the lotion goes into the small cut on my neck and stings, reminding me how high up my hair line now is at the back.
The hairdresser winds a small pink roller with spikes all over it in to the hair at the top of my forehead the pokes a small plastic pick in it to hold it in place. Its wound tighter than the perm rods and I can feel the spikes from the roller scratching on my scalp. This rollers soon joined by plenty of others as I get two rows running straight back over the top of my head down to my nape, incredibly fast putting these in, well I supposes over fifty years of setting hair and you would be quick. It seems like no time and what's left of my hair is fully bound up in these prickly little rollers, I'm seeing so many new images of my self today in this discoloured old mirror on the wall in front of me but this one is one o the strangest yet, my hairs wound just like grans was leaving me like a old lady my self this thought makes me shudder at least if I don't like this part of my dramatic makeover I can wash it out, unfortunately I won't be able to wash out the close clippering I've been given or make my soft fringe come back their both gone for a good while to come.
The grey towel comes off my shoulders the gowns pulled down lower on my neck and my neck looks very thin and long now with all my hair removed from it and my little ears very prominent.
Now to top this off I'm having a pink hair net put on me just like gran wore as I watched the other day, she holds it in both hands reaches over me and pulls the middle to my forehead, the rest she now wraps around my head and ties tightly at the back. Then two foam pads are slipped under one foe each ear.
The chair lowers and its back to the dryer I guess, she shakes my gown and a lot of hair falls to the floor again.
"Back under then" she instructs as she waits by the dryer for me, theirs still seems to be an atmosphere from my questioning her cutting my entire fringe off. Quietly I do as I'm told I just look down at the floor, I feel to intimidated by her to look straight at her. Considering that most of my hair is either on the counter in the cut off plait or all ready consigned to the bin there is a awful lot of my hair spread over the floor around her chair.
This dryer seems a lot hotter than earlier, gran told me that being set under a dryer is a lovely relaxing experience but my emotions are so raw now that relaxing is out of the question.
She gone out of the salon now and I'm all by my self my heads itching and I move my hand up to try and relive this but my fingers can't get past the net and touching these rollers makes them dig in sharply so I have to leave it alone. I'm just glad theirs no one else here to watch how submissive I've been with this bossy old cow. I can just reach my hand bag and get out my phone to look at the picture I'd shown the hairdresser of mum with her short perm.
Now I look at it the realisation dawns on me that mums hair is short but mines now even shorter than her's had been cut.
The impact of this fact is just setting in when she returns.
The visor lifts and my head is pulled forward and she feels the rollers, they stab into me as she roughly places both hands on my head.
"That's dried nicely "she seems a bit happier now and turns off the dyer.
I follow her back to the chair.
"Right then we won't be much longer now lets get you combed out, I'll not be back combing you today I think a nice simple structured curl will suit you better than height would"
Again my opinion isn't asked for, but I'm relived in a way as a big bouffant is the last thing I want to be seen with.
The net is lifted over my head and I've got my now dry hair wound on the small rollers I'm not sure if it's the light in here but it does look a little lighter in colour. The rollers are soon unwound and I've a lot of small barrels all over the top of my head they follow exactly the shape of the rollers, these are just like grans were before she teased them into the overall shape, I was worried I'd look like gran with my hair 'done' but due to how very short she's cut my hair around my ears and especially my lack of any fringe it now looks even more traditional and prim than hers, the most shocking thing now I've partially got more used to all my length missing is now its dry all of the lovely shine it used to have has gone and the very strong perming solution she insisted on has lightened my colour, I've been taken from vibrant and alive to drab and processed, I just have to close my eye's as I cant look at this for a few minutes.
When I re open and wipe the small tear forming in the corner of my left eye the full style is finished before me. I'm now a prim lady with very old fashioned hair and look rather harsh with a dominant expanse of forehead and a rather high hairline, the curls are teased into each other I can see clearly were each roller has been but they blend together to give a overall very uniform cap of curls, I could almost think this is a strange hat on top of my pulled back hair, only I won't be pulling my hair back for a very long time to come as its all been cut off, I just hope this pleases gran as right now I wouldn't want any of my friends to see me looking like this.
"A good covering of lacquer and you'll be good for a week, then I'll need to reset you, I must say you do wear a curl well. You must be very pleased with you're new hair it's a breath of fresh air to be rid of that messy long hair you've carried around for far to long."
She doesn't wait for an answer but picks up a large plastic bottle three quarters full of a liquid, with a big squeeze on the bottle covers the top of my head in what's better described as a heavy drizzle than a spray she works over my head and down the back. Ahhh the lacquer has gone into the cut on my neck again and really stings, I can feel the spray falling on my neck she's laying so much onto me, coming round the front her hand goes to my for head like a salute to cover my eyes then from short range the front of my hair is soaked in lacquer, I can see it hanging onto the individual hairs in droplets there's that much been sprayed on.
"There all done, I bet you can't wait to see the back can you"
Can't wait given the choice I wouldn't look at any of it. How ever she's picked up a mirror and holding it behind me. Oh my the first thing that hits me is that even though its not been that sunny lately where I wear my hair in a pony most of the time or rather used to before today means my neck was a lot more tanned than I'd ever imagine it would be and now I've a clear line of very white skin to show were my natural hair line should be and lots of white skin also shows were the clippers and razor have passed over, the back of my head is shocking the bald skin leads into a taper of tiny bristles from which tight hard curls eventually sprout. This harsh outline follows around both sides and from behind my thin neck and isolated little ears look really stark, I was expecting short after what I said to her about not holding back but I wasn't expecting her to go quite so high and close as she has, the thing is its cut now and theirs nothing I can do about it.
I feel the hairdressers waiting for some comment from me now, I really want to shout out 'what have you done to me '
But actually all I manage is
"Err very nice thank you, just what I needed"
It's just like looking at a different person, I look like one of those quiet shy women you never really notice, a few weeks back I was a very attractive confident young woman able to hold her own. Now I don't feel at all attractive in fact I'm very plain and ordinary, I feel as if I've handed my self over to this old women and let her do what ever she wanted with me as my confidence to deal with her evaporated. My next thought is uni I've still a few weeks till I go back but how much can I get my hair to grow out in that time no way do I want my friends seeing me like this I'll be a laughing stock with an old ladies hair 'DO'. I remind my self why I came in here in the first place it was to please gran and I just hope it will I'd hate to think that all my beautiful hair has been sacrificed in vain, and thinking of my lovely hair there's my long plait still on the counter still and lifeless and cold.
The gown is unfastened and pulled away and I see my self with out it for the first time I've a round neck that is just below my neck and this leaves a very long neck on show.
Walking over to the counter I'm in a daze I'm not used to the feeling of moving about with out all my long hair moving with me, I touch my neck and its like a part of me is missing its only now I realise how emotionally attached I was to my lovely long hair, I slip my cardigan back on in a way its good I'm dressed this formally it balances my very harsh new hair better than my jeans ever could. Edith has put my plait into a plastic bag for me and I put it into my bag as I get my purse out.
The bill is very reasonable and much less than I was expecting for how long I've been worked on.
"Now you've plenty of lacquer on so you won't have any problems there, but make sure you don't get you're hair wet till the perm has had time to settle, you won't need to wash it before next Thursday when I've put you in for the same time as you're grand mother I can manage two sets and shaves together, now before you go you will need one of these and make sure you wear it. Now I'll bid you good day"
She's assuming a lot here, who's to say I'm coming back here again if I can help it and as for repeating my shave that's another question, but I just want to get out of here now, so I simply thank her and take the hairnet in a plastic packet that she's handing me.
I want to get out of this shop but on leaving I get yet another shock as the soft breeze blows around my neck and ears and I touch my neck again only as well as the prickles of the small hairs high on my neck my fingers now find it sticky from the lacquer that hasn't properly dried yet, I put my head down and walk I don't want any one to see me but standing at a bus stop a couple of hundred yards in front are a group of four young girls about eighteen or nineteen waiting for the bus I can hear them chattering but as I get close the talk stops and they all stare at me probably astonished to see a women nearly the same age as them selves who's just been given a really short old ladies perm and then been hard shaved back and sides, I can feel my cheeks colouring up as I pass and their heads turn to follow me, I walk a bit quicker to get away and just want to get back to grans.
I need to talk to some one so as I pass a small park with a bench sit down and phone my best friend Laura.
"Hello Laura its me Sam, oh god Laura some thing horrible happened, all my hairs been cut off very short and they've shaved me all up the back and sides then permed me, and all my lovely hairs gone"
With this I just break down into tears and sob my heart out for my poor butchered tresses.
"Sam are you alright, what's happened whys all your hair been shaved off, who did this to you, oh Sam you've always had such beautiful long hair"
"I asked an old fashioned hairdresser to do it, to please my gran and its horrible what am I going to do"
I manage to stop crying now although Laura sounds really worried about me and how I'm taking this I need to pull my self together.
Well if it's permed you may be able to get it relaxed although that may damage it badly, perms always look tighter when there first done a week or so and I'm sure it will be looser, as for the shaven neck I'm sure it's a really big surprise for you right now but just think that hair always grows back so in a while you will be able to grow you're long hair back again, now stop crying Sam it's only hair not you're arm that's been cut off.
"Thanks Laura I knew I could depend on you and you're right it is only hair"
My conversation with Laura has been a great help I dry my eyes and stand back up I just hope no one saw all that.
Back at grans and luckily she's not back yet I need time to straighten my self out and tidy up after all those tears, to think last time I passed through this door it was with long flowing hair not a prim close perm.
I go straight up stairs there are some small hairs in my top and they are really annoying me I can't wait to take it off.
In my bed room at last and off comes the cardigan then my top that feels better now let's have a look at this old fashioned hair style I've got.
Sat in front of the dressing table mirror and what do I look like I'm wearing my mums big long line bra and I've just some curls perched on top of a shaven short back and sides there's so much skin between my uncovered shoulders and my mushroom of curly hair I'm having trouble recognising my self in the side mirrors which I've just positioned around I can clearly see my poor little ears exposed and bare, the taper is really high my own fault really as I did tell her not to hold back and she lived up to my word.
I'm just so plain now no one will give me a second look at all, I have to touch the back to believe how short it is now it seems so cold and sleek going down then the minute bristles can just be felt going up. I touch a curl for the first time its as hard as plastic and doesn't move as I press gently, there's no soft feminine bouncy curls like one of my naturally curly friends has this is the harsh controlled look of a prim old spinster which is what people will think I am, I take my long braid from my bag the hair fells cold now my scalps not warming it but very smooth, I don't know why but as I hold it in my hands I undo the bottom six inches then run my fingers through the smooth shiny hair then hold it up to my cheek and fell how soft it is against my sensitive smooth skin, then run it against my bald shaven neck just to remind me how it used to fell to have my long hair brushing against it. This is all too much and as I sit looking at my butchered processed curls the tears just flow and drip down on to my bra.
I need to pull my self together gran will be home soon and I cant let her see me like this, I've had all my hair cut off to please her and if she thinks I'm any thing but happy she's likely to get up set about why I've done this then the whole point of this will have been for nothing. I rebraid the hair and put it down on the dressing table, going through to the bathroom I rinse my face with some cold water then with out thinking run the cold wet fingers around my neck the cold is shocking but I must pull my self together.
I can't put the same top back on as it needs a wash to get rid of the little hairs in the fibres so I slip on a plain white blouse will a simple round neck that really shows of my high nape in the mirrors on the dressing table. It comes to me that mum would have sat here to and looked into this same mirror possibly wearing the same clothes and cried over the loss of her own long hair. How did she feel as she sat here all those years ago, did she feel the same sense of shock that I feel now or was she angry at what gran had Edith do to her, this then leads me to think about grans sister and how proud she was to have had all her girlish long hair removed so she could acquire an air of maturity, I'm now the third generation of our families women to receive this coming of age makeover and this brings me back to why I've done this drastic thing, thinking of mum reminds me of her next step when she rejected her traditional stark image and clippered all of her curls off and was left with just a crew cut look, I've preformed one once on my ex boyfriend who wanted a number two all over last summer, I couldn't imagine my mum doing that to her self before this holiday but I suppose they may not have had relaxers or straiteners in those days, I think I may need to find out more about these when I go back to uni.
Right then Sam pull you're self together. And with this thought in my mind I pick up the braid and go down stairs to put the kettle to get some tea ready for grans return and her big surprise.
I hear the front door open and gran come in,
"Are you in Samantha" gran calls out, this is it then.
"I'm in here gran"
Gran comes through to the kitchen I'm behind the door and she hasn't seen me yet.
"Close you're eyes I've got a surprise for you, now hold you're hands out."
Smiling at the game she does as I ask.
I place my long braid in her hands and her expression changes to a look of confusion then she opens her eyes and looks down at it.
"Samantha why are you messing around with you're mother's hair" she says in an irritated voice.
"It's not mums hair it mine I'm giving you"
She looks up and her eye's fall on me for the first time her hands go to her mouth and she gives a little gasp then starts to cry, do I really look so bad. Now I realise there not tears of sorrow but tears of joy
"Oh my angel you look divine, I'm sorry I'm crying but for a moment the years just rolled back and it was just as if you're mother was stood here again on the day I bought her back from the hairdressers and presented her in front of her father and he gave his full approval of her haircut. Oh my were did you have it done and I can see you've had a very good set but have you been permed as well"
So many questions and before I can answer gran hugs me and gives a happy little sob again, this touches me and I may look very plain and my lovely hair has certainly had all its bounce and life stripped from it not to mention most off it cut off but at this moment to make gran this happy I can put up with it for a few weeks until I go back, she steps back a little then places her hands either side of my head and runs her fingers around my ears and on to my nape
"My word but they have taken you short haven't they, turn around let me see the back"
"She's made a very good job of clippering you even if it is very close, is that how close you wanted it to be"
"I went to you're hairdresser because I wanted a real ladies hair style to go with these lovely clothes I've been wearing and I told her not to hold back and give me exactly what she thought appropriate and I'm very glad I did"
"Well I'm very pleased for you, I must say you look absolutely lovely and I'm so pleased that you've moved on from those silly clothes you arrived in it may take more effort but being a well turned out properly set young lady defiantly suits you, I'll be so proud to have you with me on Sunday now's lets have a better look at those curls"
Gran gets her glasses out of her bag and has me turn in front of her so she can closely study the full style I've received.
"I just cannot take in the difference a good cut has made to you, she's certainly done a good job and been very thorough with the edging around you're ears looks especially nice I'm glad she's properly removed all of the side burn and left a nice neat straight taper some hairdressers skimp on this part and leave behind silly little bits of hair hanging down that look messy they think their doing their clients a favour by not taking the sides to short but all they do is leave behind no real shape to the cut, it's the same for the back a good neck shave is essential for a properly balanced perm I'm glad you've had you're neck shaven suitably high and properly shaped. Its short changing a lady really if her hairdresser doesn't give what's needed and instead holds back in case the client is not really sure what they actually want. Now the fringe is excellent just what's needed I do hate to see silly young women who keep having to move their hair out of their eye's to see were they are going it gives them to much opportunity to be messing around with their hair when they should be concentrating on more important matters. And on top of all that you do look very serious and no nonsense now just the type of look you should be developing for you're career. And the lovely plait for me how sweet of you I'll treasure it all ways and wrap it with you're mothers, then I'll have a part of both of my girls with me always."
All of this praise is ringing in my ears but gran is crying again she's so happy, this starts me off to but now instead of pain and aguish at what was being done to my lovely hair it's joy that I've managed to make gran so happy.
The rest of the evening past quickly its really odd still when I move my head and no hair moves with me as I'm used to and I'm just sitting stroking my neck still not believing that the smooth shaven skin is mine and I'm no longer a trendy girl with hair flowing down her back most of mine is in a bin in a run down old salon.
I go up and change for bed and sitting before the mirror wearing my old fashioned night dress it's still hard to believe the prim women with no fringe and exposed sticking out ears is me. It's time to cover up my curls for the night I open the plastic bag and take out the black mesh net that Edith gave me its not the same as the one I wore in the salon this is like the one gran wears every night and is elasticated around the edge instead of be tied behind the head. I open up both hands inside it and open it up then place the edge on my forehead and bring the rest over so it tucks under my ear lobes and rests under my neck curls and finishes an inch above my eye brows. Wearing the net seems as much a statement as any thing I've wore lately and mentally underlines for me every thing I've done today.
Friday and Saturday have been and gone I didn't want to leave the house as I couldn't bear any one seeing me with this hairdo what would any good looking young men think of me a young frump who has deliberately removed her best feature, I was tempted to go back to my jeans and a cropped vest top rather than a nice respectable skirt, blouse and of course no bare legs so a pair of stockings even for hanging out around the house, I'm still not used to my hair being so brutally cut short but today if the special service at grans church so I couldn't let her down and hide in the house today.
"Samantha breakfasts ready" calls up gran and I go down to her we're both wearing similar dressing gowns and matching hairnets still. It's strange a straight laced old lady and her once attractive granddaughter sat opposite wearing the same clothes and old fashioned nets over their matching short curls. Gran went to the hairdressers yesterday and has come back with hers clippered just as close as mine has been, its strange to look at her knowing that her tight little curls are a mirror image of my own.
"Now we need to sort you out a nice outfit for today, I can't wait for all my friends to meet you, I know they'll be quite envious of me having such a well turned out and respectable young lady as my granddaughter, in fact I was only telling Edith yesterday what a breath of fresh air you're cut has been for you and she was very pleased you've come to love you're curls so quickly, in fact she was keen for me to make sure you come with me next week for a set and maintenance as she doesn't want to see all that good work slip"
Oh no now gran expects me to go with her to now, I was hoping to grow this out a bit before I went back but if this pair have any thing to do with it I'll be facing the new term with a clean shaven neck and plenty of lacquer to hold me in place.
Its time to sort out what I'm going to wear today so we go up to my bedroom and open up the wardrobe gran pulls out a formal longish dress with a dark floral print on it and hangs it on the door, then a cream dress with a short jacket to go with it, I'm not sure about either so gran goes back into the wardrobe she pulls out a very formal charcoal suit and holds it before her, it's the same one mum was wearing in the church picture I copied to show the hairdresser I know immediately this is what I must wear.
"This one gran it has to be"
"Very well my dear, lets sort out every thing else to go with it"
On the hanger next to the suits location in the wardrobe is a white blouse with a high ruffle collar and a large floppy bow at the front. I've never worn any thing this fancy in my life and I'm not sure if it's a little over the top.
"Now a special outfit like this needs a little extra in the foundation department"
Gran goes over to the draws opens up the bottom one and brings out a cardboard box its quite old and she opens it up and pulls out a white all in one open bottom girdle it looks a real heavy duty piece and the cups stand out to attention on there own. Hanging from the bottom are six thick suspenders it doesn't look quite big enough for my waist.
"Gran I don't think it will fit it doesn't look big enough"
"It's plenty big enough and with this type of garment its you that will fit it not the other way round"
That's me told now she's opening up a tissue paper package and revealing a pure white pair of silk knickers with proper legs in them and elastic round each leg cuff.
"I think you'll be best with dark hosiery with this suit, and perhaps a little more heel than normal since it's a special day to day, now run along and get you're self showered and make sure you're hairs properly covered"
Gran had already had her shower so when I came back through she was nearly ready.
"Now Samantha lets get you sorted as you've never worn a girdle before I'll give you a hand"
I slip the towel off I've got wrapped around me and see my self in the mirror my Brazilian wax I had when I came here is now replaced by a full big bush of hair the funny thing is its probably as long and as curly as the hair on my head now. The big silk knickers soon cover all this and most of my abdomen they come up over my waist and half way down my thighs. Grans got the girdle ready for me I pull it on and she pulls it around from the back, I slip a boob into each of the rigid cones and gran pulls up the zip on the back as the zip rises rapidly I feel the air squeezed out of my all of my bodies being squashed and it takes a few moments to settle my breathing. If the corselet didn't fit my waist it certainly doesn't my boobs the cups are about a size to big.
"Gran there to big for me it'll not look right"
"We'll soon sort that out" she says with a smile and gets a pack of cotton wool from the dressing table draw and pulls pieces out
"This will give you what you need just tuck them in"
The cups are duly padded out and I've two amazing big boobs I've never been that top heavy but these two now look much bigger as I look down there all I can see.
My waist is tiny and I've a real hour glass figure amazing really. I sit on the edge of the bed to pull on my stockings there sheer and black and shaped so there not a tight fit like the cheaper tights with a reinforced toe and heel the darker black band around the top just joins up will the bottom of my knickers. All this is then covered with a silky white slip I must say this may be old fashioned but it does feel glamorous being constrained and held erect by this corselet.
The blouse is much more embellished than any thing I've ever worn before the ruffled collar is quite high but still comes no were near my shaven hair line at the back and its strange to be buttoned right up to my throat, gran ties the bow for me and smiles contentedly to her self, the foundation has shaped my bust so that the blouse is tighter around these two cones sticking straight out.
"Sit down dear and I'll sort you're hair and powder out"
I sit on the stool the stockings wrinkle up at the back of my knee as I bend them in quite a sexy way, Gran now lifts my hair net off my set seems to be intact but still she tucks a couple of the little curls under that have moved a little, then gives me a big spraying with her lacquer so I'm really solid for today. A little powder to stop any shine a pale discrete lipstick and my face is ready to face the world.
I slip on the skirt and tuck my blouse in it falls below my knee and is quite heavy material with a few pleats.
Grans got my shoes ready as she said with a bit more heel today, the heels are about three inches high and I feel like I'm on tiptoes wearing them and a bit unsteady this makes gran chuckle watching me gain my balance.
"A bit different to those training shoes you wore all the time aren't they" I certainly have to agree with her there.
"Now my dear you look absolutely beautiful, you're hair so suits you now you must be very pleased with it"
I've still not got used to my long hair being gone but Grans so pleased I just smile and nod my head.
The walk to the church in these heels was not easy at first but its getting better with practice; this is my first time out in public with my little tight curl and I'm very self conscious of people looking at me, this is made worse when we arrive at the church we're early so stand outside as it's a nice day, and gran introduces me around all her friends like a prize exhibit, the old ladies I'm introduced to all seem to have very similar hairdo's to me all many of them have complimented me on how nice I look today, with each compliment Grans pride seems to grow, I can feel my cheeks glowing red and I'd like all this attention to switch else were but seeing how happy gran is now confirms to me that my sacrifice has been worth wile. While were out side one of Grans friends husbands' comes up to us,
"My but it's just like times rolled back looking at you're granddaughter she the splitting image of her mother isn't she"
"Yes I'm so proud of her, and how she's turned her self into a proper young lady" replies gran
My cheeks are glowing again with all this attention.
"Do you remember that photograph I took for you all those years ago right here, well I've got my camera here now how about I take another for you"
"Oh that would be so lovely, I'd really appreciate that" Glows gran
"Right then lets have you both over there then just like before"
I stand with Gran give my best smile and her friend takes a few photos. Then gran asks him to take one of me on my own close up so she has a picture of me with all my lovely curls as she calls them.
I have to stand for several pictures the man is enjoying him self but all this is generating quite a bit of attention.
I'm glad when its time to go in to the church. Were sat quite near to the front. There's a middle aged vicar preparing at the front and also a young vicar who's really good looking.
"That's the assistant from the next parish I was telling you about" says gran
He seems to be looking about for some one I wouldn't mind it being me. Then he waves to some one behind me and a women walks down the isle to him she's quite a bit older than him I think judging from her hair and clothes with thick old fashioned glasses but as she comes up to him and hands him a book he touches her hair affectionately on the back and she moves towards him as if this is perfectly normal. She's turned towards us now and to my surprise she isn't middle aged at all but not much old than me in fact she looks very similar to me in her formal dress hardly any if any at all makeup but what makes her stand out most is her very short very tightly permed and set hair, she sits in a pew on the front row and I can clearly see the back of her head the back and sides around her ears are completely clean shaven and her small tight curls for a high bowl cut, theirs no new white skin on her neck unlike mine so she must have been having her neck shaven for a while now, this is intriguing I thought I'd be the only young women here with a old ladies hair style but I'm not in fact her's is even more sever than mine. And this good looking vicar seems to like it to.
The service is a long one but it goes quickly I've spent most of it studying the young woman on the front row and wondering what drove her to be so cut and curled so extremely, there's tea in the church hall after and I hope she's going in there so I can get a better look at her. We file out of the church and both vicars are at the door to shake hands as we leave Grans in front of me and starts talking to the elder one who she seems to know quite well this leaves me the young one who gives me a big smile and seems to be looking me up and down as I approach him, I'm very conscious of my larger boobs and feel very shy he shakes my hand
"I'm very pleased to meet you" he smiles as he talks I was expecting him to talk to my boobs but instead he's almost staring at my hair normally this would make me uncomfortable but surprisingly it doesn't.
"If you don't mind me saying you're hair looks delightful, would I be right in thinking that you've had a set from Edith she always sets so precisely"
"Yes as a matter of fact I have, how did you know that" he surprised me with this statement
"My girl friend Clair has been to her a few times now she never fails to deliver beautifully turned out hair, are you going to the church hall now, if you are I'll introduce you"
"Yes I am, I'll see you both later"
There are a lot of people here in the hall nearly every one has stopped after the service, I've been led around by gran and shown off to all her friends I've managed to slip away while she's talking I'm fascinated to see the vicars girlfriends hair up close and would love to know the story behind it, also its strange that a vicar could spot who set my hair the way he did. I spot them both across the room their talking to a man and she has her arm though his they look very close. Studying them for a moment perhaps they don't look so miss matched, his clothes are conservative and the short back and sides he wears certainly could be called respectable. She's wearing a plain navy dress with pearls around her neck and tan tights or maybe stockings like me and the more I look I notice her waist and boobs, I think she has a girdle or corselet like mine all of this must be to his taste as they both look so comfortable together the most surprising thing is what a pretty face she has hidden beneath those horn rimmed glasses fashionably dressed with out the prim harsh haircut she would be stunning, what has made her hide all of this.
The man moves away and the vicar spots me and they both come over to me.
"Hello again we haven't properly introduced ourselves, I'm John and this is Claire"
"Hi I'm Samantha well Sam normally but I've nearly got used to gran using my full name"
Claire smiles at me then looks at my hair
"What a lovely set you have their, John told me you were talking earlier one of Edith's I believe, she has made a good job of it though did she cut you're hair to" asked Claire
"Yes I had it done this week, I had very long hair before and I'm still not really used to it being so short"
"Yes it is a big shock at first isn't it, but you do carry the cut very well. I remember when John first asked me to have my long hair all cut off and permed similarly to your's it took me a little wile to gain my confidence in my new look but that was a good while ago now and since haven't looked back. It must have been a big step for you putting you're self into Edith's hands she certainly doesn't hold back with the clippers does she, she gave me a cut once and really skinned me up the back and sides it was the same day she cut one of my friends hair and gave her practically the same cut you have although she wasn't quite so hard on Emma's neck as she has been on you"
I go on to tell them both why I ended up in Edith's salon and how I'd told Edith not to take it easy with the clippers, they are both very easy to talk to and John seemed very interested in my cut and asked numerous questions about how I felt about the result and even how I felt wile the cutting took place which mite have appeared over curious but he had such a calm manner about him I just opened up with them both.
"I'm training now my self to become a hairdresser, only traditional ladies styles of course now so if you'd like you're hair done some were other than Edith's give me a call it would be nice to chat to, and don't worry I won't go easy with the clippers I can see you must enjoy the feel of them"
"Thank you I just may take you up on that, although I'm not sure about being clippered again I think I may need to grow my hair back before I go back to uni as I'll stand out a bit like this"
"That would be a real shame to give up you're curls now you've come so far, I'm sure Claire could come up with a version that allowed you to fit in but still maintain those lovely little rolls" added John
"I'm sure I'll be able to help you out, let's swap mobile numbers and we'll work something out" Smiled Claire.
As we talk another man passes by and smiles to us all he seems quite shy and about twenty five but is nice looking in a formal sort of way.
"Alan join us for a while" calls out John
Alan comes and John makes all the introductions.
I feel a bit unnerved I didn't expect to be meeting any good looking men today especially dressed like this, still I don't feel quite so out of place with Claire here similarly dressed and even more primly styled on top.
After a while John and Claire have to circulate amongst the rest of the parishioners leaving me with Alan. At first he seemed very shy and perhaps the sort that in my recent confident past I wouldn't really have paid much attention to but my severe haircut and dowdy clothes have changed that in some ways arrogant streak that I had. We spend another hour chatting and I come to see that he's not actually shy just a quiet sort of person and after a while I can see he has a genuine warm caring side and a sharp sense of humour, and has actually complimented me on how nice my hair looks.
Grans waiting for me to leave now I'd like to stay a while longer but feel awkward and so I think does Alan in her full stare.
"I work away in the city during the week but will be home next week, will you be coming next Sunday" he asks
"Yes I hope I see you then" I reply
It's been a quiet few days with gran we've done some gardening but mostly we've just talked and had time together, it's nearly a week now since my big makeover my feelings have settled a bit now and I don't feel so conscious of my looks when we go out but that may be because no one knows me here. The thing that is getting to me now though is washing my hair I've never gone longer than a couple of days between shampoos before, but Edith's dire instructions not to get my perm wet for a few days at the least means that now I've a head that needs a wash not to mention all the heavy layers of lacquer that have built up. Grans expecting me to go with her for a set tomorrow but that will also mean another close shaving which I don't really want, so I think I'll give my self a shampoo as the perm should have had long enough now.
At first the water seems to bounce off all of this lacquer but after a couple of minutes the shampoo penetrates and I can work it all out it's lovely to give my self a good rub but its different to last time I did this and I had all of my hair to work on, after rinsing which was much easier my hair feels really soft and bouncy I cannot stop running my fingers through the curls. I give it a rub with a towel and have a look in the mirror on my dressing table, I expected it to be sticking out all over were I've just rubbed it but instead I've perfectly placed tiny little barrel curls all over my head in fact I can almost make out were each perm rod probably went the curls have tightened up now their wet and really pull back off my face and around my ears, now the curls aren't dressed and set I can see glimpses of my scalp between them on the sides in the parts were the tapering has been harshest, I wanted my hair to grow out but if anything it looks even shorter now but it does feel lovely and soft and after no effort its nearly dry to no need for thirty minutes with a hair dryer today. Taking a wide toothed comb I comb the little barrels through and they seem to break up a bit so that after a few strokes I've a head covered in a very tightly curled little afro. Well I'm a bit happier with this as I don't think I'll stand out quite so much people might just think I'm a naturally curly girl. And maybe I'll look a bit more natural in case Alan's in church Sunday.
"Oh you've washed you're set out then" remark's gran
"Yes my head was starting to itch and I couldn't wait any longer"
"Not to worry dear as I've made us both appointments for in the morning for a nice set"
Gran looks as if she's looking forward to us going to the hairdressers together, I don't want to be shaved again I'm not worried about the set as I can always wash it out but I'm just starting to get some bristle back on my neck and sideburns and would like more not less. I look at her face again how can I disappoint her after all she's done for me.
"That will be nice gran"
"Yes dear I was thinking about you're set last time she gave you a nice dressy look, this time maybe you'd like something more plain and simple and more modest."
More plain I looked a frump last time what has she in store now.
"What ever makes you happy gran?"
That night was different as it was the first time in a week I hadn't wore a hair net to bed I keep touching the soft little curls and am beginning to quite like them, I just wish their was a lot more length to them.
Surprisingly next morning I hadn't a hair out of place they sprung back perfectly gran and I were out of the house early and set off to the hairdressers I think I'm dreading this one more than the first visit as I'm only to aware now of the clippering I'm about to receive
Were walking to the salon
"Gran I was thinking I might tell her not to clip the edges this time, it does look nice but I might let it soften a bit for when I go back"
"Oh no clean up hey, it would look fine I suppose but just think of that nice clean feeling you get when you have a nice fresh neck line and how sharp and neat it always looks, it's up to you my dear but I did hope that you would keep up you're new look a little longer than one week"
There is almost a look of disappointment on Grans face as if she's been looking forward to seeing me in the chair.
"Well maybe this time I'll have my edges tidied"
"A good idea my dear you wont regret it"
And with this comment the conversation dies as we reach the salon.
There's no time to hesitate outside this time as gran leads the way in there are already two ladies inside one very old woman under the dryer and another elderly woman just having a net wrapped around some small plastic rollers in which her totally white hair is bound.
"Good morning all" is Grans greeting to every one, she walks in and slips her jacket off.
"Good morning Joan I'll be with you both presently"
"Now then get you're cardigan off and be ready we don't want to keep Edith waiting" instructs gran as she reaches out and takes one of the faded gowns from a row of pegs.
Obviously I'm to go first then, and grans holding out the gown for me as if she's in charge today.
While I'm putting the gown on Edith has taken the lady who was in her chair over and seated her under one of the dryers, and walks back to her chair with a smile on her face.
"Come along then dear I'm waiting for you now" she hasn't bothered to sweep up any of the hair on the floor and there's quite a bit of grey and white hair around the metal base of the chair.
This is it then I think I'm more nervous than last time when I was on a mission to please gran, well I suppose that's what I'm here for again.
I sit my self down in the old chair and she pumps up the height slightly and there I am again viewing my self in that discoloured mirror with my tight springy little curls. Grans stood by my shoulder intent on getting in on this.
"Now you did make a lovely job of her hair last time Edith but this time she would like it set in less fancy manner, something plainer for every day, and you loved having a nice clean neck didn't you dear" Gran doesn't wait for me to answer "so this time I think she could do with just a bit more off the taper I know last time as it was her first time she would have been a bit nervous but now she fully appreciates and good close taper and I'm sure you wont disappoint her will you"
"Not at all Joan you leave it to me I've just the thing for her I agree nice and plain every day is just what some of these fancy young women need to settle them down a bit in fact it might not hurt to trim a little off the top to now the perm has settled down nicely"
"You do what you think best Edith" comes Grans reply, what about what I think best no one seems bothered by this.
I glance over at the two ladies under the dryer they both smile approvingly at me the whole shop seems to be ganging up on me right now.
A towel goes over my shoulders and she pushes me forward with out a word being said into the sink in front of me, a vigorous shampoo follows for an old woman she certainly has strong fingers.
I'm sitting back up now the towel has been removed and I've loads of small damp curls all reflecting the light she gives them a quick comb through with a wide toothed comb to remove any tangles surprisingly for such a compact head of curls they all spring back into place with no tugs.
She's got her scissors and a finer comb and combs up the first curl at my forehead were my fringe should have been before it was removed last time there's about a quarter of an inch of hair sticking out of the comb.
"Now Joan I can trim it back this much and that would be alright, but if you really would like me to give her a nice plain look I'll take more than that off"
"Take more than that off no point having half a trim is there, you take as much as you like off" answers Gran.
The comb goes in again at the bottom and is drawn up until there's almost an inch out that's about half of the length of my curl and with out any more discussion she snips it straight off.
"Just the job Edith" smiles Gran
With this approval she sets to at all my other curls and soon theirs a lot of hair dropping on to the gown. My hearts beating twice its normal rate and the image before me is of a young woman having her curly hair cut brutally short, taking more length off has made them pull in even tighter I can even see white scalp between some of the curls.
With a satisfied nod of her head she puts down her scissors and picks up the clippers from their hook keeping the comb in her hand, she comes to my left side and the clippers click on and hum quietly, she leans my head to the side and puts the comb into my hair above my ear then with one movement runs then up were my side burn should have been and the fresh stubble has grown back leaving a clean white strip behind then rises up the comb tapering out into the tight little curls. I'm being shaven again despite what I wanted. This treatment is repeated all around my head and I'm back to bare skin nearly.
"Very nice Edith now last time she had quite a long taper, this time how about a wet shave to clean up"
"Thiers not many still have that done now a days but I think it would be lovely for her" replies Edith
And she puts down her clippers and gets a small cup with a brush sticking out from the cupboard below.
She pours a little water in then whisks the brush round then spreads the resulting foam around my ears then the back of my neck it obvious from the line she's taken that I'm about to receive a high very close shave.
She picks up a straight cut throat razor and opens it up the strokes it against a leather strap hanging on the side of the work top. My heads carefully angled over and placing the razor high on the side of my head draws it down in one movement moving it around my ear, then using just the end scrapes away in front of my ear to make sure not even a shadow remains she wipes the razor on the towel then starts again working around the side and behind my ear. Then my heads pushed forwards till my chin touches my chest and the skin on my neck pulls taunt then the razor strokes begin again. I make sure I remain very still this time so I don't get nicked again as she works around me.
When she's finished I'm wiped with the towel to remove any stray foam the she runs her fingers up my nape this feels so strange and smooth.
"Now I will be using some old very small rollers on her now the tops so short it'll give a lovely wave, its funny I hadn't used these for years then not to long ago I had a young woman in here with her young man a vicar no less, who wanted her cut very short and tightly permed and now another young lady to use them on perhaps there's hope for these youngsters after all"
She could only be talking about Claire who I met at the church, I'm beginning to think about her boyfriend John he was really interested in my hair and now I'm told it was his idea for Claire to be cut very short and tightly permed.
Before I can ponder any more I'm jolted by cold setting lotion hitting my scalp and her combing it through, then starting at the front a small roller not much bigger than a perm rod is wound in followed by more to give me two straight rows going back, now thought instead of the sides being filled in horizontally the rollers are continued over so they make bands running from ear to ear their very tight again and like before I can feel my scalp pulling with each one and there are a lot of them, certainly many more than last time I had a set.
Gran seems very pleased with the result so far and nods her head approvingly.
Now it's the net these salon ones are a lot heavier than my night time net and she thighs it tightly at the back so that I can feel it pull into my forehead I'm not sure if she goes over the top with me or if all her ladies get this treatment but for gran to say how much she likes being set these old women must like the feeling of being controlled by this dominating old woman. The brown foam ear pads go in now and the seat drops away under me.
"Over you come then" Edith points to the one remaining dryer between the two old ladies, they both match me in their faded gowns rollers and nets as I sit between them. Grans readying her self putting on a gown from the pegs waiting for Edith to tie the rear, the visor drops and the motor starts drowning out all the noises from the salon wrapping me in a shut off little world, there are some old magazines that the other two are reading but I couldn't concentrate at the moment I'm more than a little worried what my wet shaven neck is going to look like and is this going to be a step to far for a once attractive twenty year old. Looking down at the floor there is a lot of dark hair around the chair this could only have come from one head today mine.
Grans in the chair now and again lowers into the sink with out a word as if she's been through this so many times now it becomes instinct, this brings up the next question in my mind how many more times will she expect me to come here with her, there's no way I want to meet up with all my friends after the holiday with a new wet shaven back and sides the curls will take some explaining as it is. I might take Claire up on her offer to try and tone me down ready to go back maybe she could make me a bit less old fashioned, although I think I'll try and dress a bit smarter and more formally than before.
I've been daydreaming for a while now and Edith is just putting down the clippers after using them on Gran, oh my, she's really gone to town on Gran the back and sides have all been closely tapered up and she's just a curly top left
Now the foam and razor are back out Grans having a wet shave to only her's is a lot more severe than mine.
The razors leaving clean white skin behind and her ears look very exposed from this rear view she's got her eyes closed I can see in the mirror as if she's really enjoying this. It doesn't take long for the hairdresser to finish off and I can clearly see the bone structure of the rear of Grans head the skin is shining now the last of the foams rubbed away just like mine must be, when we leave we'll have matching shaven necks.
Before Edith goes does any more to gran she stops and comes over to the dryers lifts the hood of the lady on my right feels her hair then leads her over to the waiting chairs.
I cannot help but notice that this very old lady has her rollers placed in the same up and over pattern gran asked for mine to be done in looks like I'm about to get a preview of my own plainly set hair.
It doesn't take long for Edith to set net and pad Gran then she leads her over and sits her next to me theirs no point talking under here, so Gran just gently holds my hand as we sit together under the hoods, I can see all three of us in a mirror opposite two old ladies and a plain young woman in the middle.
Before she starts on the next lady the lady on my left is moved from the dryer to the chairs, for one old woman Edith certainly knows how to get the customers in and out with no messing about waiting for them to make their mind up you get what you're given in this salon.
Edith's just finished the very old ladies comb out now, the rollers have left a very prim hard set look that is certainly plain and everyday the only other thing worry me as I watch, I've had the same roller pattern as she has but my hair is now quite a bit shorter than hers.
The old lady leaves looking very happy with her set, now it's my turn to move over to the chairs, the motor stops and the visor rises. She places her hand on my shoulder and pulls me forward so she can feel my rollers then with out a word takes the ear pads out.
"That's you nicely dry then over to the chairs then and I'll be with you shortly."
The next old lady takes her turn in Edith's chair and her net is removed.
At this moment the door opens and in comes a rather plum woman in her sixties,
"Hello every one" she greets the shop as if she knows every one here and probably does.
"I caught the earlier bus this morning so I'm a head of schedule Edith"
"That's alright Dot, we'll fit in as and when"
The new woman sits next to me being on the large side she overspills her own chair and encroaches on to mine her side brushes against me. With this contact she turns to me as if seeing me for the first time.
"Not seen you here before my dear have we"
I don't really want to get into conversation with this woman who seems a little overbearing but I haven't really any choice but to answer.
"No I haven't been many times before"
"So decided its time for a proper hair style did you"
"Err yes something like that"
"Good about time some of you youngsters sorted your selves out"
"Those are nice small rollers you've got in there, have you had your hair cut nice and short to"
This woman's really direct with her questions and a bit nosey to.
"Yes I have got short hair now"
"Now you say, was it long before then"
"Yes"
"How long was it?"
I gesture with my hand how far down my hair used to come before the hairdresser went to work on me.
Doing this reminds me just how much I've sacrificed recently.
"That must have been a real bind having all that hair in your way all the time I bet you're really glad to be rid of it all aren't you"
"It's different"
"I'll bet it is and so nice to see good old fashioned styles being taken up again, I'll bet it was you're husband wanted you cut so you'd look respectable for him like a real wife should not some silly flirty girl showing off all the time, that's the trouble now a days these women go round flaunting them selves showing every thing they've got and then wonder why theirs trouble and carrying on. No decency"
Well I certainly couldn't be accused of showing every thing I've got today in my past knee length skirt and roll neck jumper, all though it does fit quite tight across my firmly held and shaped bust. Short skirted flirt I'm certainly not today. Thank fully before this woman can pry and more the lady in the chair is finished and getting up, with yet another head of small precisely placed curls.
After a few moments Edith indicates for me to get in to her chair every other time it's been with trepidation but this time is relief to get away from the big woman and her questions.
I settle down in the chair before she starts work on me she leads gran from the dryers to the seats. Edith unties my net and lifts it off, she soon unrolls all of the little rollers and now the shock really hits home when my hair was wet I couldn't really tell how much had been taken off the top but now it hits home the small rollers have given me ridges of curls from front to back Edith's blending them in slightly now but as she stretches the curl out its forming into a wave and my hair consists of a series of straight waves going from ear to ear, its all harshly pulled back away from my hair line and is extremely old fashioned and severe. In fact this looks even harsher than Claries hair last Sunday how can I let Alan see me Sunday looking like this.
"How lovely she looks like that Edith, its so refreshing to see a young lady nicely turned out it must be very satisfying for you to get the chance to give them what they need" The nosey woman says.
"I've had a couple in lately wanting a good cut and perm, I must say they leave the better for it" replies Edith, they are talking about me as if I'm not here.
I receive two thick coats of lacquer and that's me finished, I want to feel how short this cut really is on top but know if I do I'll disturb the set so have to just look at it and imagine how long it will be with the curl opened up my guess is not long at all, the chair lowers for the last time and up I get the gown is untied and slips off
"I'll sort the money out when I finish you're Grandmother so go and sit down"
I can see my self in the mirror opposite I don't really look like me as I used to think of my self, I touch the back of my neck for the first time since its been shaven its so bare and smooth there isn't even the tiny little bristles I used to feel as I stroked against the lay of my hair, this is just cold and bare, my fingers go quite a way up before they encounter the first hair then hit the sticky tight waves, around my ears even stranger just bare skin all-around them is this really how Gran wanted me to look shaven bald.
"That's nicely finished off its good to see a proper nice neck shave to finish off, so neat" she's started again
"Thank you"
"I hope you'll be keeping this up now, it's just the sort of cut my daughter should be having she's nearly thirty and has ridiculously long hair time she started acting her age I say"
I can't help feeling sorry for any one who has this nosey old woman as a mother in law. She keeps on talking but I'm not listening instead my thoughts are drawn back to the reaction Alan may have when he catches sight of me like this, it was bad enough Sunday in my formal suit and short curls but I seemed to have got away with it but this shaven neck and sides may just be to much for him and he'll think I'm some kind of freak a young attractive woman who seems to be doing her up most to make her self as plain as possible.
"Are we ready then dear" grans standing over me ready to leave, I really was in my own world then. I rise and follow her to the till her hair has really been butchered and her bare neck rises up into a very high taper leaving just small barrel curls on top I can even make out were each small roller has been.
Gran insists on paying for us both and we leave the salon, after a loud good bye from the old woman on the seats.
To be continued.

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